Sergio Perez‘s position at Red Bull going into 2025 will be decided over a shareholders meeting that will be held once the ongoing Formula 1 season ends next month.
Perez’s wretched 2024 continued in Las Vegas as he posted his sixth Q1 elimination this season which he converted into a singular point as he raced through to 10th.
The Mexican’s recent setback came on the weekend in which Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen secured the Drivers’ Championship with two rounds still remaining.
But while the substantial 251-point gap between its two drivers has all but cost Red Bull the Constructors’ title, Perez has managed to cling onto his drive to this point.
Perez, who has a deal until 2026, has insisted that he will return alongside Verstappen next term, though Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has stated that’s not assured.
With Perez showing little sign that he can escape his slump, Marko has reiterated that talks will take place when the season is over to finalise Red Bull’s driver line-up.
“There will be a meeting after Abu Dhabi and the result of this meeting will be presented to the shareholders and they will then decide what the driver situation for both teams will look like for next year,” team advisor Helmut Marko told ORF.
“I don’t know the exact gap now, but I think Checo has over 200 points less than Max. And then it’s clear that the Constructors’ title is no longer possible… so if Sergio was anywhere near (Lewis) Hamilton and (George) Russell or Ferrari or even McLaren, then we would be well ahead again.”
Horner coy on Perez’s Red Bull prospects
Perez’s place has been viewed as more precarious due to Red Bull’s two-team ownership providing the group with an in-house solution should it opt to make a switch.
Yuki Tsunoda will sample the Red Bull RB20 in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, but team-mate Liam Lawson is considered the likelier RB driver to earn a promotion.
Meanwhile, Red Bull has also registered an interest in acquiring Williams rookie Franco Colapinto, who has thrived since replacing Logan Sargeant earlier this season.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner remained reticent on Perez’s prospects post-race, though he conceded his driver’s troubled outing dealt a blow to the side’s title hopes.
“We have drivers under contract, and we have drivers with options that remain between the company and the drivers involved,” Horner told media including Motorsport Week.
“And there’s nothing to say on that. But if there was something to say, I’d tell you.
“I mean, obviously, a single point from Checo. I mean, it was a good drive from him, a good recovery.
“But the problem is, we’re starting out of position on the day that McLaren were weak. We would have liked to have taken more points out of them today.”
READ MORE – Sergio Perez blames Las Vegas Q1 on ‘fundamental issues’ with Red Bull
Discussion about this post