The Sergio Perez Situation
As the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship heads toward its conclusion with three races remaining, some discussions are already shifting toward 2025. Beyond the recent announcement of Gabriel Bortoleto joining Sauber for the upcoming season, doubts persist about Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull, despite the Mexican having a contract in place for 2025.
Sergio Perez’s Struggles
Currently, Perez sits in eighth place in the Drivers’ Championship with 151 points from 21 races, including four podiums in the first five events of the season. However, “Checo” benefits from the financial backing of Spanish sponsor Carlos Slim, along with additional support from South American sponsors (according to *Marca*), making it unlikely the 34-year-old will exit the sport next season.
Alberto Longo’s Defense
One of Sergio Perez’s most vocal supporters is Alberto Longo, co-founder of Formula E, who hopes the Mexican driver’s F1 career continues. Longo, who has often remarked that Perez would be welcome in the fully electric racing series, defended his former driver not only for his talent but also against the excessive criticism he has faced in the paddock.
“I love Checo and Carlos Slim,” Alberto Longo said in an interview with *SoyMotor.com*. “I think the F1 world has been enormously unfair to Checo. I had him as a driver for two or three years in Formula 2, and I will never tire of saying it: he was a driver with absolutely unique talent. I saw him overtake once, in Doha, in 2008 or 2009 during the GP2 Asia series, and I’ve never seen anything like it in my life—and I’ve been around for quite a while.”
Red Bull’s Treatment of Sergio Perez
Alberto Longo also criticized Red Bull’s handling of Sergio Perez, in addition to his broader grievances with F1: “We are, of course, talking about one of the greatest drivers in history, Max Verstappen. But that said, I don’t think Checo has been treated fairly. I’ve said this from the very beginning. It’s more visible now, but it hasn’t been right from day one.”
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