Red Bull has decided to retain Sergio Perez, keeping their driver line-up unchanged as the Formula 1 season resumes at Zandvoort after the summer break. Despite a challenging streak, Perez remains part of the team's strategy.

Perez's recent form has been less than stellar, trailing behind his teammate and championship leader Max Verstappen by 146 points. His last podium finish was back in race five in China, and since then, his average race finish has been eighth. This performance dip has allowed McLaren to close the gap in the constructors’ championship, now just 42 points behind Red Bull, with Ferrari another 21 points further back.

Christian Horner, Red Bull boss, and Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsport Adviser, have discussed Perez's situation and decided to stick with him. A Red Bull spokesperson confirmed that the line-ups for both the main team and their sister squad, RB, will remain unchanged post-summer break.

So why stick with Perez? The team believes there's more they can do to help him get comfortable with the car and extract its full potential. They recognize his capabilities, as evidenced by his career-best second-place finish in last season's drivers’ standings, but they need that form consistently now. Red Bull plans to develop strategies over the coming weeks and months to ensure they get the best out of Perez. They also feel that the tracks after the summer break should suit his strengths, considering his performances last season—fourth in the Netherlands, second in Italy, and a win in Baku.

This decision also allows drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda more time to prove they deserve a promotion to the main team. Ricciardo has shown glimpses of his former self but lacks consistency, while Tsunoda is having his strongest season yet but still needs to convince Red Bull that he can step up.

For reserve driver Liam Lawson, it's a mixed bag. While he’s highly rated by Red Bull and has impressed both on and off the track, he remains in the wings for now. Lawson will have another chance to showcase his talent on Wednesday when he drives a 2022-spec AlphaTauri at Imola during a filming day. While this isn't a speed test or shoot-out, every positive run can bolster his case.

For now, it’s business as usual. If Perez regains his form, the speculation about his future will die down. However, if he continues to struggle, the pressure typical of Formula 1 will persist.