Perez had a tough 2024, finishing 224 points behind Verstappen in title race
He picked up five of his six career wins with the team but will now move on
Sergio Perez confirms Formula One’s worst-kept secret after torrid season with Red Bull.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner hailed him as ‘an extraordinary team player’
Sergio Perez has today confirmed the long-anticipated news that he is leaving Red Bull, opening the way for Liam Lawson to take the hottest seat in Formula One – as Max Verstappen’s team-mate.
The 34-year-old Mexican is moving out after a tough season for him. A talented driver, his form was nevertheless shot and he finished 224 points behind Verstappen, in eighth place, compared to the Dutchman’s crushing fourth world championship success.
‘Checo’ Perez leaves with five of his six career wins at Red Bull. He will be most cherished at team for his brilliant defensive drive to keep Lewis Hamilton behind him in the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, won controversially by Verstappen.
The new champion expressed that night how grateful he was for Perez’s contribution to his first title success and was keen earlier in the season for his sidekick to stay on.
Perez was also a massively valuable marketing commodity in the huge Mexican market, another fact that helped his cause.
Perez took up a deal in June to race until the end of next season, but fading form put paid to those hopes. A decision to look at alternatives was made several weeks ago.
With his meagre points’ contribution, a year after finishing a distant runner-up in the drivers’ championship, Red Bull finished the 2024 constructors’ table in third place behind McLaren and Ferrari. That was never going to be enough, which he knew. Hence his own decision to leave – an elegant exit.
Perez said: ‘I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Red Bull. We broke records and reached remarkable milestones.’
Team principal Christian Horner hailed an ‘extraordinary team player’.
Lawson is the heir presumptive. The sparky New Zealander, aged 22, is expected to move up next season from Red Bull’s junior team RB after impressing Horner, though he has competed in just 11 grands prix.
