F1 News
Perez: 'Quitting? This is not how I wanted to end my career'
- Ludo van Denderen
With his second place in the final drivers' standings, Sergio Perez finally managed to maximise his chances. The road to it was one full of bumps: where the Red Bull Racing Mexican had serious hopes of fighting for the championship at the start of the season, he found himself in an ever-deeper slump throughout the season. Rumours even arose that Perez was considering retirement.
None of this: also in '24, Perez will be on hand as Max Verstappen's teammate at the Austrian squad. Although noises suggested otherwise, Perez never intended to hang up his racing gloves after the season that just ended, he confessed in conversation with various media.
Perez did not want 'the easiest route'
"No, obviously that would have been the easiest route because sometimes it was very tough. But I am not the type of person who will give up at this stage of my career and be prepared to end my career this way. It is not something I have ever considered doing," said Perez, whose commitment with Red Bull ends after the '24 season.
Perez does not want to point the finger at others when his poorer performance mid-season is brought up. He and he alone was responsible for that, the Mexican makes it clear. Meanwhile, there was speculation in the media about his future at Red Bull, being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo, for example? The experienced driver shrugged his shoulders: he was only improving himself.
"But ultimately, if you want to come out for Red Bull, I am aware of how strong you have to be mentally. And it's something I've become stronger at. You learn so much from the bad days, much more than from the good days," Perez concluded.