Analysis | What could Sergio Perez's future after Red Bull look like?
General
- Ludo van Denderen
Despite a 2024 contract, Sergio Perez has spoken out for the first time about a possible future outside Red Bull Racing's team. Perhaps in conversation with Spanish broadcaster DAZN he was mistakenly referring to the period after next season, perhaps he was actually looking ahead to what could happen as early as next year. In any case, the message is: Perez only wants to work in an environment where he can actually add value. Where might that be?
Time and again, Christian Horner has already hinted that Perez will continue to race for Red Bull in 2024. Yet even the Mexican has noticed advisor Helmut Marko throwing some teasing punches here and there at the driver alongside Max Verstappen, hinting at a future for his team without Perez. Possibly the Austrian wants to put his driver on edge with this, or is there some chance that Perez will be thanked for services rendered after the current season after all? In any case, no one will be surprised if Red Bull and Perez part ways after 2024.
Where could Perez end up in 2025?
At the time Perez would start preparing for the 2025 season, he would be 35 years old. In the current Formula 1 field, there are drivers who are significantly older with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, and they have proven to have hardly sacrificed any of their exceptional speed later in life. Both also regularly showed this season that they can get the most out of their cars. For his part, Perez is not doing that with the Red Bull, undeniably the best car on the grid. Then again, he is 'only' 33 years old.
All the teams on the F1 grid surely see that Perez is struggling alongside Verstappen and regularly makes odd slips. Therefore, it seems highly unlikely that at least one of the traditional top teams will bring in the Mexican, should Perez be a free agent. Indeed, Perez is by no means an improvement over, say, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz.
He would potentially be of interest to Aston Martin, though, if in a subordinate role. After all, Perez has the necessary experience with Honda - from '26 the power unit supplier to Aston Martin - and is a more consistent points collector than Lance Stroll. Alongside Alonso - if he continues in F1 beyond next year - Perez would not look out of place as a runner-up. Should Alonso do end his career, Perez lacks the quality and personality to be the team leader of the ambitious green brigade.
The end of an era?
Perhaps there will soon be teams in the middle or backfield that want to tie Perez to them, as Alfa Romeo, for example, did earlier in a similar case with Valtteri Bottas. But then Perez, in turn, should ask himself why he should do such a thing? Does it really make him happy to be driving his laps anonymously in his final days and having tasted success, already happy with a single point once every five Grands Prix? For years, Perez has already been in a similar situation, when he came out for several mid-tier teams. Moreover, these teams did not want him at the end of 2020 either. It was thanks to Red Bull that Perez was allowed to delay his F1 retirement.
In just under a year and a half, Perez could leave Red Bull with his head held high, with almost certainly at least one vice-world champion title in his pocket. In his native Mexico, Perez will forever remain a legend, as no compatriot in the history of the sport has been as successful as him. It seems the ideal time for Perez to seize that moment to say goodbye to Formula 1 immediately too.
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