Sergio Perez has decided not to leave Red Bull at the end of the season. He hinted at this with several social media posts, including from his father. However, it seems that Milton Keynes is now determined to take a different path for the next season, with Liam Lawson being the top candidate to replace him and become Max Verstappen‘s new teammate.
Today, Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, admitted the mistake of extending the Mexican’s contract and doing so too hastily.
“Obviously, at the time, Sergio was getting great results. I believe he had achieved four podiums in the first five races. To reassure him and extend this form for the rest of the season, we decided to act early and renew his contract, but obviously, it didn’t work. Sometimes life is like that.”
Horner does not forget the great contribution Sergio Perez made in the early seasons at Milton Keynes. However, this will not preclude the opportunity to change the lineup for 2025, with Verstappen remaining the team’s leader but requiring more support from the new teammate.
“And I think that Checo, beyond this year, has contributed to our team. He’s been a great team player. He’s a fantastic person. He’s very popular within the team. He’s worked very hard during the four years he’s been with us and has played a key role in the constructors’ championships we’ve won and the five grands prix we’ve won with our car.”
“It was the most successful pairing we’ve ever had, with first and second place in the drivers’ championship last year. So, no one is more frustrated than Checo about the results compared to his high standards. It’s obviously been painful for him and the team, and we’ve worked hard to try to support him, and we’ll continue to do so until the checkered flag on Sunday, where we hope he can achieve a good result in the final race of the year.”
“Probably being Max’s teammate is the toughest job in Formula 1 because he has such a high standard, such a high level. His performances are relentless. Anyone who sits in the car next to him must have enormous strength of character and the ability, of course, to work within a team and focus on themselves and, in a sense, almost ignore what’s happening in the other car.”
“Because I think that’s where it mentally becomes incredibly difficult, as we’ve seen with many of the greats. I’m sure that when you worked with Michael Schumacher or Ayrton Senna, their teammates had an equally tough job, and now Max joins that elite group of drivers.”
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