Red Bull boss Christian Horner has named “continuity and stability” as the two leading reasons behind the team’s choice to extend Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 contract.
The Austrian squad has dispelled the lasting rumours over Perez’s prospects with the announcement that he has signed a two-year renewal through the 2026 season.
Perez’s latest contract will ensure that he will head into a fifth campaign with Red Bull next term, where he will once again partner reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Horner explained how the desire to not unsettle the side as it combats the rising threat from rivals this season was instrumental in the decision to retain the Mexican.
“Now is an important time to confirm our line-up for 2025 and we are very pleased to continue working together with Checo,” Horner stated. “Continuity and stability are important for the team and both Checo and Max are a successful and robust partnership, securing our first-ever one-two finish for the team in the championship last year.
“Checo has had a strong start to 2024 with second places in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Japan and then his podium in China.”
However, Horner conceded that Perez’s recent outings have been less positive as he slumped to eighth place at Imola and then retired on the opening lap in Monaco.
But the long-serving Red Bull Team Principal has backed the six-time Grand Prix winner to emerge from his struggles to boost Red Bull’s chances in the championship.
“The past few races have been tough, there is convergence on the grid, but we are confident in Checo and look forward to his return to proven form and performance, that we so often see,” he continued. “Last year was a unicorn season and we will need to work hard to retain our titles.
“But we are assured in our line-up and with the team as a whole, which is imperative in what is shaping up to be a close-fought championship this year.”
Red Bull heads into this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix with a 24-point advantage over Ferrari as the Italian marque capitalised on its rival’s struggles in Monte Carlo.
Meanwhile, Verstappen sits atop the Drivers’ standings with a 31-point gap to Charles Leclerc, with Perez’s low return in the last two races seeing him slip to fifth spot.
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