Sergio Perez sets deadline over Red Bull F1 future decision

Sergio Perez has disclosed his timeline for learning about his future in Formula 1 with Red Bull.

The Mexican driver’s contract is set to expire at the end of the year, and speculation about whether he will retain his seat has been rife over the past year.

Despite facing challenges in the 2023 season, Perez’s performance has shown improvement at the beginning of the new campaign, instilling confidence in his chances of staying with the team.

When asked if he feels any additional pressure regarding his future, Perez told Sky: “No, I am pretty relaxed about it. It’s my 14th season in F1, and whatever comes next… I’m really pleased with what I’ve achieved in the sport so far. I believe it will be a matter of time.”

He added, “The driver market is evolving. In the next few weeks, there will be a lot of movement. I expect, within a month, to really know what I am doing next year.”

 

 

Initially considered a top contender to replace Perez, Daniel Ricciardo’s difficult start to the season has cast doubt on his position at Red Bull’s sister team.

Perez further solidified his case to remain with Red Bull by securing his third second-place finish of the 2024 season, contributing to Red Bull’s third 1-2 finish in four races alongside teammate Max Verstappen.

Reflecting on his performance, Perez commented, “It was a good weekend overall. We came close to pole.” He narrowly missed out on pole position, trailing Verstappen by just 0.066s.

He continued, “Starting behind in the dirty air made things a bit challenging. The balance was off during the first stint on mediums, but we managed to rectify it for the second stint.”

Discussing the race dynamics, Perez added, “We encountered traffic, which affected our tire wear. Once we had a gap of four or five seconds to Max, it was crucial to bring the car home safely from the pursuing cars.”

Perez also highlighted the team’s improved baseline performance, stating, “We have a much better baseline. Confidence is key for high-speed tracks like this. As momentum builds, we should continue to improve.”