Red Bull confirms Sergio Pérez's commitment for season remainder

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Sergio Perez will continue as a Formula One driver for the team beyond the summer break, remaining with the team until the end of the season.

In a decision that took many by surprise, Team Principal Christian Horner announced Perez's continuation with the team to the Red Bull factory on Monday. According to reports, dispelling recent rumors surrounding the Mexican driver's future with the team.

"Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver despite recent speculation, and we look forward to seeing him perform at tracks he has previously excelled at after the summer break," Horner affirmed.

Perez's status had been uncertain for some time, with sources indicating as recently as the Belgian Grand Prix weekend that he might be replaced during the summer hiatus, which lasts until the end of August. The uncertainty reached a critical juncture on Monday when Horner and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko convened to discuss various team matters, including Perez's future.

Following the meeting, a consensus was reached to allow Perez to complete the season with Red Bull. Despite his recent struggles, which have seen him fail to secure a podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix in April, the decision underscores Red Bull's confidence in his potential to rebound.

Perez's dip in form, combined with McLaren's notable resurgence, has heightened concerns over Red Bull's standing in the Constructors' Championship. Perez has only managed to accumulate 28 points over the last eight races, casting doubt on the team's ability to defend their title.

Internally, there are growing apprehensions that McLaren might overtake Red Bull for the Constructors' Championship, with many attributing the potential downfall to Perez's recent performance.

Attention now shifts to the upcoming Imola test, where Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and reserve driver Liam Lawson are set to showcase their skills on Wednesday. Originally perceived as a trial for Perez's seat, the test may now serve as an evaluation for Ricciardo's and Lawson's future roles within the team.

Ricciardo, who has yet to secure a contract extension for 2025, displayed promising performance improvements prior to the summer break, inching closer to retaining his position for the remainder of the season.

As Red Bull navigates these turbulent waters, the focus will be on maximizing their lineup's performance to fend off McLaren and secure their standing in the championship.

Up Next