Red Bull Team Principal has revealed details regarding Sergio Perez’s contract extension with the Milton Keynes-based Formula 1 outfit, hinting at flexibility in favour of the team.
Amid a poor run of form, Red Bull announced last Tuesday ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix that Perez had won a two-year extension at Red Bull, ending speculation he could be replaced by either Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo or even Carlos Sainz.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda was announced to be extending his tenure with the second Red Bull-owned F1 team, the Faenza-based RB outfit, who exercised an option to retain the Japanese driver in 2025.
Horner spoke with Dutch broadcaster Viaplay where he explained the mechanisms of Red Bull driver contracts and hinted that Perez’s deal is only guaranteed for a year, as opposed to two.
“They are all Red Bull drivers,” Horner stated.
“We have decided to extend Checo for one more year, but in the meantime we also wanted to exercise the option of Yuki. He is doing great at RB at the moment. So yes, he will stay for another year.”
Horner’s admission regarding signing Perez for one more year further fuels speculation regarding the nature of Perez’s extension through 2026.
It had been widely believed that Perez’s deal is in fact a one-plus-one contract extension, meaning the second year of the deal isn’t guaranteed and Horner all but confirmed this in his further comments.
Not only did the Red Bull Team Principal say in the official announcement that “Now is an important time to confirm our line-up for 2025,” but his further comments to Viaplay clarified the nature of the contract.
“Well, 1+1=2, so it’s a two-year contract,” Horner said.
“As with any contract, there’s a lot in it, but that’s, of course, between the driver and the team.”
With Perez’s extension coming amid a bad run of form, which continued post-announcement with a Q1 exit and DNF in Canada, he must turn his fortunes around to ensure his 2026 season in Red Bull colours comes to fruition.
Red Bull isn’t enjoying the rampant dominance that saw it win both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships at a canter last season and thus needs Perez to step it up a notch to retain its dual title-winning status.
Moreover, if Perez fails to perform to the level required of Red Bull’s no.2 driver, Tsunoda’s impressive 2024 form coupled with his retention within the Red Bull set-up could finally see the Japanese driver promoted at Checo’s expense.
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