All signs point to the Mexican company Telmex discontinuing its sponsorship of Red Bull. The communications company owned by billionaire Carlos Slim has been linked to the team since Sergio Pérez’s debut with the Austrians. Telmex’s departure would be an additional setback for Pérez, who many experts believe is still with Red Bull due to the Latin American sponsors he brings with him.
It seems only a matter of time before Telmex officially ends its sponsorship. The company claims it would only terminate the partnership because Red Bull has partnered with competitor AT&T, a telecommunications company from the United States. “We are still in talks with the team; it’s not final,” Carlos Slim recently told ESPN Mexico. Whatever happens, the individual collaboration with Sergio Pérez is likely to continue as usual.
“We always want to continue with Checo,” Slim explained. Despite his mediocre performance this season, including his recent flop during the qualifiers in Mexico (P18), Sergio Pérez remains hugely popular in his home country. “As far as possible, we will always remain loyal to him, without a doubt,” Slim promised. “A collaboration with a driver is always separate from the sponsorship of a team. It has always been that way.” The loyalty to Pérez is strong, even if the Mexican driver is possibly dismissed by Red Bull. “If we can’t continue with the team, we will continue with Checo anyway,” Slim concluded. “Wherever he drives, we will be with him.
