Sergio Perez has said his Formula 1 future with Red Bull will be decided in the “coming days” amid mounting speculation over his future.
There was nothing Perez could do on Lap 1 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit as Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas bumped over the Turn 6/7 kerbing and into the side of his Red Bull.
That forced Perez into an early retirement and the Mexican was downbeat as he described the incident in the media pen.
“I didn’t see Valtteri,” Perez explained.
“As I was doing the corner I was hit very late on the rear. Then I lost drive.
“But I think the drive was already an issue before that because every time I was shifting up I was losing drive so I think there was something related to that already.”
The early DNF cost Perez a chance to impress Red Bull amid his uncertain future.
Speculation suggests Perez could be moved aside in favour of Liam Lawson, with F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar promoted to join Yuki Tsunoda at RB in 2025.
As it stands, the Mexican isn’t clear on his future, despite being adamant he’d be on the 2025 grid earlier in the weekend.
“At the moment I don’t know,” he said when asked what his situation is heading into next season.
“I just know I’ve got a contract to race this year, unless something changes in the coming days that’s going to be the situation next year.”
Asked why the likes of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have been talking to other drivers, Perez replied: “That’s something you’ll have to ask them.”
Perez then revealed conversations with Horner, Marko and Red Bull regarding his future with the team will take place soon.
“I think at the moment I’ve got a contract which I signed earlier in the year to race for the team for the next two years,” the Mexican explained.
“So we’ll see what happens and how the conversation goes in the coming days.”
No intention of resigning from Red Bull, says Sergio Perez
Red Bull has implied that Perez’s future is up to him as it has allegedly tried persuading him into an ambassadorial role to see out his contract.
However, the Mexican said he has no intention of resigning from his Red Bull race seat after his 2024 season came to a bleak end at the Abu Dhabi GP.
When asked if he’d resign from racing duties, the Mexican said: “No.”
The questions came amid talk Perez could be moved over to an ambassadorial role to see out his multi-year contract extension, which was signed with Red Bull in June.
“We’re going to be talking in the coming days and we will discuss what’s the situation from both parties if we are able to reach an agreement,” Perez said.
“If not, I have a contact for next year.”
READ MORE – Red Bull admits Sergio Perez F1 contract extension ‘didn’t work’
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