« I have a contract for 2025 » – Perez on his future at Red Bull

Sergio Perez refuted rumors about his departure from Red Bull in 2025. Speaking to the press before this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he stated: “Nothing has changed from what I have said throughout the year. I have a contract for next year and I will be driving for Red Bull next year.” When asked about the certainty of his presence, his response remained the same: “I have already said it. Nothing more to add. I have a contract for next year.”

The two Red Bull pilots, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, are expected to replace him, with Lawson having particularly impressed during his race appearances this season. In response to these speculations, Perez warns about the difficulty of the role: « Being Max’s teammate at Red Bull, for a young driver, I wouldn’t want to be in their place, to be honest. People cannot underestimate the level of challenge that this seat represents. »

A season under high tension

These replacement rumors are not unfounded. The 2024 season has proven to be particularly difficult for the Mexican, who is at 277 points, alongside his teammate Max Verstappen, in the drivers’ championship. More worryingly, Red Bull is in third place in the constructors’ championship, with a 59-point gap behind McLaren before this last race of the season at Yas Marina, notably due to the underperformance of their second car.

Although the Mexican driver admits his role in this situation, he also insists on the collective aspect that influenced the outcome: “Of course, I take responsibility, but I do not think that everything can be attributed to a single person. I am part of a large organization, of a great team, and it is very regrettable that we could not fight harder for the constructors’ title,” he said to the media.

Perez’s performances for most of the season reflect these difficulties. Since the resumption after the summer break, his best result remains a sixth place at the Dutch Grand Prix. Incidents have multiplied, notably a botched start from the pits during the sprint race in Qatar and a spin behind the safety car during the main race.

End of season under surveillance

Sympathetic to his driver, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner commented on Perez’s position after the Qatar Grand Prix: « It’s not a pleasant situation for Checo to be in this position with speculations every week. He is old and wise enough to understand the situation. Let’s see where we stand after Abu Dhabi. »

On his side, Perez remains positive and calm regarding the support of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, and calls for unity: “I think it’s important to stay united because the season hasn’t been the best. But in the end, there’s a reason why they renewed me, and they know I can still do it, it’s an important factor,” he said.

Despite the difficulties and rumors, Perez remains focused on the race: « For me, the important thing is to focus on the weekend. Give my best for the team and really try to prove to the whole group that we can make it. That’s the main goal for the weekend. »