End of the road for Sergio Pérez
Red Bull have announced that Sergio Pérez will be leaving the team for the 2025 season, putting to end all the rumours about the Mexican’s future as they announced that they mutually agreed to part ways with Pérez. The Mexican was handed a two-year contract extension in June 2024 but a dip in form meant the Austrian team have decided not to continue with him.
The decision marks an end for a rollercoaster four seasons for Pérez with Red Bull, where he had mixed results and could never fight at the front of the grid with the rest of the contenders. Sergio Pérez had a shocking 2024 season, which saw Red Bull unable to defend their Constructors’ Championship. The Mexican finished eighth in the Formula One season 2024, going winless and his poor showing meant Red Bull finished third in the Constructors’ Championship standing, losing out to McLaren, who won their first Constructors’ in almost three decades, while Ferrari finished second.
Sergio Pérez made his debut with Sauber in 2011 before spending one season with McLaren in 2013. He spent a long period with Force India/Racing Point between 2014 – 2020, cementing his place as one of the best midfield drivers on the grid. The Mexican’s first career win came in 2020, winning the Sakhir Grand Prix 2020. Red Bull signed him for 2021 and Sergio Pérez immediately played the perfect teammate role to Max Verstappen, helping the Dutchman win his first Drivers’ title.
Pérez finished third in the Drivers’ Championship standing in 2022 and was runner-up to his teammate in 2023. In this period, he picked up 5 wins with the Red Bull team but an extremely poor 2024 season, especially given the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes all are taking the fight to Red Bull meant that the management looked for someone who could deliver the results.
For Pérez, though, this might be the end of his Formula One career as there is no seat on the grid left for him for the next season and at 34-years of age, age isn’t on his side either. The only option for him would be to return to the grid in 2026, after sitting out the 2025 season, and take the Cadillac seat, if the American team looks at the Mexican as an option.
Sergio Pérez, commented,
“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team. Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the success we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.
A big thank you to every person in the team from management, engineers and mechanics; catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes. I wish you all the best for the future. It’s also been an honour to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success. A special thank you to the fans around the world and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember…Never Give Up!”
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, said,
“I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons. From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first one-two finish in the drivers’ championship. His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit. While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history. Thank you, Checo.”
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