Reports suggest that Red Bull has finally made a decision regarding Sergio Pérez. The Mexican driver is said to be relieved of his duties after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After a disappointing season, there has been ongoing speculation about his future with the team. Now, it is reported that Pérez will not be allowed to fulfill his new two-year contract.
According to De Telegraaf, Red Bull’s team management has made the call: Sergio Pérez will no longer drive for the main team next year. Furthermore, he is not expected to secure a seat with the junior team, Visa RB. The newspaper reports that Checo could only continue as an ambassador for the Austrian racing stable. Further negotiations about his future are expected to take place during the race weekend in Abu Dhabi. It is even possible that his contract will be completely dissolved. He signed a two-year extension with Red Bull just this summer.
Liam Lawson to Join Red Bull
If Sergio Pérez indeed has to relinquish his position, Visa RB driver Liam Lawson could be promoted to the main team. After the Singapore Grand Prix, the test and reserve driver temporarily replaced Daniel Ricciardo and made a strong impression. Lawson now appears to be the prime candidate for promotion. His spot on the junior team would then go to Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar. Yuki Tsunoda would be the biggest loser in these shifts – after Sergio Pérez. The Japanese driver debuted with Visa RB four years ago but never got the chance to move up to the main team.
Sergio Pérez had a disastrous season in 2024. The Mexican driver often failed to advance beyond Q1 in qualifications and finished outside the points on multiple occasions. In the last eight races, he scored only 13 points. In comparison, Max Verstappen amassed a whopping 134 points during the same period. The Dutchman crowned himself the undisputed world champion with 429 points, while his teammate languished in eighth place with 152 points.
