Aston Martin and Red Bull, on the way to finalizing crucial deals ahead of the Canadian GP

Ahead of the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, there is a lot of movement in F1 markets. From drivers to support staff teams are in talks to finalize some deals. Starting with Red Bull Racing Sergio Perez is likely to continue with the team. On the other hand, Aston Martin is also looking for a new Chief Technical Officer (CTO). 

Mattia Binotto is set to join Aston Martin as Chief Technical Officer!

Drivers aren't the only ones making headlines in F1's silly season. Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto was seen at Imola, conversing with Aston Martin's owner, Lawrence Stroll. 

While there was speculation about Binotto becoming the team principal, f1-news.eu clarified that the actual position being offered is Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Binotto is expected to fill the role vacant since Andrew Green's departure in early 2023. 

In this position, he would oversee Dan Fallows, Aston Martin’s technical director, and collaborate with Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of Aston Martin Performance Technologies, on strategic vision. Fallows and team principal Mike Krack would continue to handle day-to-day operations. Given Binotto's engineering background and prior experience at Ferrari, the CTO role aligns well with his strengths.

Why Sergio Perez is likely to retain his seat at Red Bull?

Sergio Perez has retained his Red Bull seat for this season, despite a challenging 2023. Though he signed a two-year extension in 2022, his struggles led to speculation that Red Bull might not honour the second year. Perez won two of the first four races last year but then faced qualifying issues, achieving only five podiums thereafter. Despite these challenges, he secured P2 in the Drivers’ Championship, meeting Red Bull’s expectations.

This season started well, with Perez finishing second to Verstappen in three of the first four races. However, recent performances have faltered, dropping him to fifth in the standings. Ferrari and McLaren's improvements have put pressure on Red Bull. 

While Team Principal Christian Horner emphasized the need for Perez to score points but acknowledged his strong start. As Red Bull considers their future lineup, Perez's position remains uncertain, although a return for another season seems likely.