F1 News
Sergio Perez and Red Bull Racing in divorce: Here is where things stand
- Ludo van Denderen
An entire week has passed since the chequered flag was waved at the Abu Dhabi GP, bringing the 2024 season to a close. Focus now shifts to the upcoming season for the teams. Red Bull Racing at the moment are still yet to announce which driver will become Max Verstappen's teammate nextt season. Why does it take so much time for the decision can become official in the case it was already taken at Monday's meeting? GPblogs explains.
Nobody in the F1 paddock assumes that Sergio Perez will also drive for Red Bull in 2025. The Mexican was reportedly told by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko the day after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that there is no longer a place for him at the team, but nothing has been announced to the outside world (yet). This must have something to do with the fact that Red Bull and Perez must first agree on the terms for terminating his contract.
In the end, everything is about money: Red Bull want to give the Mexican as little as possible, while Perez wants to make the most of it. Not only does Perez want his entire salary - estimated by sources to be around $14 million a year -, but also the compensation for the income he misses out on from his sponsors as a result of not driving for Red Bull in F1. Indeed, there are several parties in Mexico that pay Perez handsomely, given he competes in Formula 1. If that is no longer the case, they would not want to pay him at all, or pay as much.
Perez must fight Red Bull to protect his image
The sum involved is likely to add up to tens of millions. It is important for Perez that he gets the most out of the negotiations, especially given his status in Mexico. It would kill his image among the proud Mexicans if it were to leak that Perez not only loses his place at Red Bull, but was also relieved of his duties with 'pennies'.
As a result, it also remains unclear who will also drive for Racing Bulls, the junior team within the Red Bull family, as it is linked to the Mexican's departure. Liam Lawson would still be the main candidate to succeed Perez, although Honda is pushing to put protégé Yuki Tsunoda alongside Verstappen. Isack Hadjar is definitely leaving Formula 2 and would be the main candidate to get promoted to Formula 1, if Tsunoda or Lawson were to move on.
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