Perez: don't want my kids to think I'm a quitter

Perez, a father of four, emphasized that giving up is not the example he wants to set for his children, so he will not throw in the towel.

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Sergio Perez showcased his resilience and determination after a disappointing 16th place qualification at the Hungarian Grand Prix, expressing his commitment to setting a strong example for his children amid swirling doubts about his future with Red Bull Racing.

Perez's struggles at the Hungaroring compounded an already challenging period for the Mexican driver, who crashed out in the opening qualifying session where McLaren's Lando Norris led a one-two finish. With Red Bull increasingly likely to consider a driver change during the summer break, Perez remains steadfast in his resolve not to give up.

A father of four, Perez reflected on the importance of perseverance. "I wouldn't say fun, I would say a challenge, something that mentally it's really tough, and the easiest way would be just to give up after the career I've had to say it's been enough, but it's not what I want to teach my kids, not what I want to show this sort of character," Perez said. "I just want to get back, and I will get back, I will not give up."

Alongside Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, Perez is one of the few fathers on the current F1 grid. Rumors about Perez’s potential seat loss have circulated for some time, with Red Bull evaluating reserve driver Liam Lawson. Additionally, Daniel Ricciardo remains a potential candidate for a return to the team.

Perez has not achieved a podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix in April, leading to concerns about his position. When questioned about the possibility of losing his seat, Perez maintained his focus: "No, like I said before nothing changes, I'm not worried, I'm fully determined to turn my season around and to focus on my performance."

Two weeks earlier at Silverstone, Perez also failed to advance from Q1. However, both he and Red Bull were hopeful following a promising Friday practice session at the Hungaroring.

"It hurts, you know, that it happened again, especially in the run that I am going through, but yeah I'm determined to turn this around. I believe ... yesterday we had a really good day, very promising day, so I think we had very good information on the long runs so hopefully we can have some really good pace to come through the field and hopefully score some points," Perez added, outlining his hopes for a strong performance on race day.

As the F1 season progresses, all eyes will be on Perez to see if he can indeed turn his fortunes around and secure his place with Red Bull Racing.

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