Sergio Perez has revealed that he thought his time in Formula 1 had come to an end towards the latter stages of the 2020 season before he signed for Red Bull Racing.
After Sebastian Vettel was announced alongside Lance Stroll for Aston Martin Racing’s debut season, Perez looked to be set for a year on the side-lines despite being under contract to drive for the Silverstone-based team until 2022.
However, a career-changing end to 2020 saw Checo come home second in Istanbul before taking the maiden chequered flag of his career in Bahrain after ending the first lap in last place which effectively earned him a spot at Red Bull.
“The hardest thing is to stay in Formula One,” Perez wrote in a guest column for The Players Tribune. “In 2020, when I knew I would not get another contract at Racing Point, I thought it might be over.
“I felt it could be my last season in F1, and it nearly was. It was very close. Actually, I was already thinking about my life without racing.
“Then Red Bull offered me a deal at the last race of the season, and of course, I was super happy to accept.”
Since joining the team in Milton Keynes, the Mexican driver has been instrumental in the success that Red Bull has enjoyed over the last two years.
Checo played a part in team-mate Max Verstappen’s Drivers’ Championship in 2021 as well as helping the team become double world champions in 2022, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2013.
“Competing for Oracle Red Bull Racing is a huge privilege, you know? With such a strong car you’re almost guaranteed a chance to fight for a victory every weekend, which is what you want.
“My profile was raised once I became part of the Red Bull family because it’s such an important brand. A really crucial thing is that my relationship with the mechanics is so good.
“We’re obsessed about winning and we’re having fun, which is a big deal because we spend so much time together. I mean, I see them more than I see my wife!”
