In December, after four seasons of loyal service at Red Bull, Sergio Pérez was asked to pack his bags. The Mexican was dismissed due to disappointing results and replaced by Liam Lawson. However, Pérez is certain, through a ‘very reliable source’ within the team, that Red Bull now regrets this decision, as good results are also lacking for Lawson’s successor, Yuki Tsunoda.
Sergio Pérez had the opportunity to sit in the Red Bull cockpit for the first time in 2021. The Mexican then drove alongside Max Verstappen for the Austrian team for four seasons, until after a disappointing 2024 season, Red Bull decided to end their collaboration with Pérez. The driver was replaced by Liam Lawson. The New Zealander did not get to enjoy his promotion for long, as after just two races, Lawson had to make way for Yuki Tsunoda.
And this while Pérez was offered a contract extension early in 2024. “It was a crucial point, as I had signed a contract in Monaco (end of May 2024), and everyone was talking about my future,” the driver recalls in the Desde El Paddock podcast. “It would have been very easy for the team to protect me, but that did not happen.”
However, Red Bull couldn’t simply break Pérez’s ongoing contract at the end of last year. Reportedly, the racing team had to pay more than ten million euros for this. His two successors scored seven points in ten races, compared to the 111 World Championship points that Pérez had accumulated during the same period a year earlier. Yet, the Mexican does not expect an apology from his former employer.
‘Max deserves his success’
“Ultimately, this is how sport works,” Pérez continues. “Decisions were made because they put too much pressure on themselves. I know they regret it deep down. I have this from a very reliable source,” reveals the former F1 driver. “I have very good friends at Red Bull and people might think I’m enjoying what’s happening now, but no. The truth is that Max Verstappen deserves all the success he has. He’s an incredible driver and few people understand how he works. He’s exceptional.”
