Despite his ups and downs in the middle of 2023, Sergio Perez helped Red Bull Racing for the first time in the team’s history with a 1-2 finish in the individual championship, in addition to being a constructor. ranking, and after he didn’t start the 2024 in Mexico badly, he was extended for 1+1 years at the beginning of June, i.e. until the end of 2026 in the best case.
Although it has since become clear that the championship team – ignoring the driver’s repeated feedback – already started in the wrong development direction last year, Perez still performed below all expectations for most of the season, he was only really strong in Baku since April, but he even played down his chance for a podium there. with his accident at the end of the race with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
It has been a topic for quite some time that despite the existing contract, the 34-year-old driver may be fired, which was underlined by the fact that they gave the opportunity to prove themselves at VCARB until the end of the season to Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo.
It has been rumored several times that Perez will announce his retirement at the next domestic race this weekend, the Mexican Grand Prix, but he himself and more recently his father, Antonio Perez Garibay, who recently suffered a heart attack, categorically refused this on social media.
“Checo’s best is yet to come. I am convinced that in time he will have the tools to fight for the world title. I’m looking forward to this, I can say that Checo will be world champion again” – he said Papa Perez for Mexican Record.
The pilot’s father did not clarify where and with which team his son could end up, but based on the recent words of Red Bull’s head of motorsport, Helmut Marko, the big opportunity will not necessarily come as Max Verstappen’s teammate. The Austrian again only indicated that the competitor does not necessarily start his new contract.
“Perez may have a contract, but Formula 1 is based on merit. If there is no performance, the contract is worthless” he stated to F1-Insider. “We will meet at the end of the season to review who could be Verstappen’s best teammate in the future.”
It is interesting that together with the above, Marko himself recently labeled Perez’s possible retirement announcement in Mexico City as mere rumour.
“It’s just a rumour. He also said that it has no basis in reality. We’ll see, but the fact is he has to do better” he said last weekend in Austin.
Source: www.vezess.hu
