Sergio Perez has revealed that he will take the next six months to decide whether he plans to pursue a potential return to Formula 1 having lost his seat at Red Bull.
Red Bull announced last month the much-expected move that it had reached a settlement with Perez to vacate the seat that he had been contracted to hold in 2025.
Perez’s time with Red Bull came to a premature end amid a disastrous season which saw him languish a substantial 285 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen.
The Mexican’s woes, which comprised 21 points in the last 10 rounds, cost Red Bull the Constructors’ Championship as it slipped to third behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Making his first public comments since his Red Bull exit was communicated, Perez divulged that he intends to take his time until committing to a decision on his career.
“My priority is to enjoy myself, to do things I haven’t done, to be with my family,” he said, as quoted by ESPN Deportes.
“In the next six months, I will make a decision on what I want for the next step in my career.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner revealed at the time that Perez will retain ties to the group with show runs in previous cars being included in his ambassadorial role.
However, Horner also admitted he wouldn’t be surprised to see Perez on the F1 grid again with the new Cadillac side in 2026, provided his ex-driver wishes to return.
The General-Motors-owned team has an agreement in principle to enter F1, with Perez’s vast experience seeing him be tipped as a viable option for the newcomers.
“It’s too early to give an answer as to whether I intend to return to Formula 1,” Perez, 34, highlighted.
“Everything happened very quickly at the end of last season, I didn’t expect to leave the team.”
Perez ‘never gave up’ despite Red Bull struggles
Perez had been adamant until his final race in Abu Dhabi that he would retain his drive, a stance that appeared to have been a negotiating tactic to ensure compensation.
The six-time F1 race winner, though, “never gave up” despite the hardship that he endured as his Red Bull spell petered out with two retirements in the last three races.
“The important thing is that I never gave up,” he said. “Whenever something difficult happened in my career better things came and that was because I never gave up.
“I’m very excited about what’s to come this year and I’m very calm and very happy.
“I am really enjoying my children, my family, my friends. I am finally going to travel, because in these years I travelled all over the world, but without knowing it.”
Perez discusses immediate plans
Perez has expressed that his time on the sidelines will now allow him to see his children grow up, something he feels he missed out on with a relentless F1 schedule.
“My biggest motivation now is to take my children on a good path and be more present in their lives,” Perez added.
“I am very excited to be with my family because in F1 you only think about being a better driver, preparing yourself better, you don’t have time for anything else.
“My biggest motivation is that I have a soccer tournament with Checo [his son] in three weeks and we are going to travel around Mexico.
“My biggest motivation is that we do well in his tournament, I can enjoy it a lot with my son.”
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