Perez approached Red Bull Racing himself about a possible switch

Sergio Perez is the new driver at Red Bull Racing for the 2021 season. The Mexican himself asked for an opportunity to join Red Bull Racing, according to a new interview with Helmut Marko.

Halfway through 2019 Pierre Gasly was told he would return to Toro Rosso and Alexander Albon was given the chance to drive for Red Bull Racing. The young Thai didn't make many mistakes, but wasn't very fast either. In 2020 this continued and there were rumours that Nico Hulkenberg or Sergio Perez would replace him.

These possibilities were called for by the drivers themselves. ''Both have asked us," Marko says in conversation with Motorsport-total.com. However, the drivers were put on hold. They both had no alternative, so Red Bull could wait and see how the season would unfold. In the end they went for Perez.

''The growing shape he showed is of course an important point to mention. I think this is his best season ever in Formula 1. In addition, in the race he won you could see that Russell was not getting any closer in the Mercedes on better tyres. That he can drive so fast on old tyres, he has proven in several races,'' concludes the Austrian.