Sergio Pérez is holding talks with Red Bull in the coming days to work out the ‘right way forward’, with his exit from Formula 1 likely to be confirmed.
Sources have told ESPN that Red Bull is ready to move on with Pérez after discussions, which both team principal Christian Horner and, for the first time publicly, the Mexican driver admitted took place after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Pérez retired after just two laps at Yas Marina, the latest disappointment in a season that saw him outscored by championship-winning teammate Max Verstappen by 285 points.
‘We’re going to sit down with him and reflect on the season and obviously where it went wrong, and together we’ll work out what’s the right, the correct and the appropriate way forward,’ Horner said.
‘Obviously the point of reference is always your teammate. And the car has won nine races with Max at the wheel. [But] it’s been far from the easiest car, and Max is the hardest teammate in the world to have.’
Sources told ESPN that Horner met Pérez’s agent Julian Jakobi several times in the Yas Marina paddock last week to discuss an amicable parting of ways.
Pérez signed a two-year contract extension in June, but scored only 49 points in the last 18 races of the season. He has now openly admitted that he might not stay with the team. ‘We will talk about it in the coming days and discuss what the situation is on both sides if we can reach an agreement,’ Pérez said. ‘If not, I have a contact for next year.’
When asked if he intends to leave voluntarily, the 34-year-old simply said, ‘No.’ While talks are taking place after the final, the timing of a decision is less clear.
Sources have indicated that Red Bull is willing to move Pérez from his race team and into a larger ambassadorial role with the team without a significant change to his current salary, which is believed to be around $8 million per year.
That would be a significant concession to make for a role that would essentially include a handful of shows around the world and marketing appearances for the company.
Sources have indicated to ESPN that Liam Lawson, back at RB as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement at the US Grand Prix, was lined up to replace Pérez in the senior team, but making sense of Red Bull’s thinking on drivers has been complicated all season.
Red Bull had hoped that young driver Isack Hadjar would make the optics of the decision a little easier by winning the Formula 2 championship on Sunday, but he lost out to Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who is headed to Sauber.
Hadjar, who will test for RB at the post-season test at Yas Marina next week, would then be moved to Lawson’s seat.
A promotion for Lawson would leave Yuki Tsunoda at RB for a fifth consecutive season, a decision that would raise questions about his long-term future with the company’s racing arm beyond 2025.
Following McLaren’s victory in the constructors’ championship, which ended Red Bull’s two years with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri impressing, Horner admitted that Red Bull needs two strong drivers to move forward. ‘I think you can see the importance of having two drivers scoring regularly in the constructors‘ championship, it’s crucial,’ he said.
‘Ferrari will be strong with their line-up next year. McLaren has a strong line-up. Mercedes will have an inexperienced driver in one of their places. And so, you know, for our team, it’s very important that both our drivers are up to scratch and that there is not a significant gap.’
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