Red Bull Racing prepares for a future beyond Sergio Pérez
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
In what has been described as an inevitable reshuffle within the Red Bull Racing ranks, it appears that Sergio Pérez's tenure with the team is reaching its final lap. Despite a contract extension signed earlier this year, the Mexican driver is expected to part ways with the energy drink-backed outfit at the close of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Team principal Christian Horner approached the delicate subject with diplomacy after the Qatar Grand Prix: "I'm going to let Checo [Pérez] come to his own conclusions; nobody's forcing him one way or another," referring to discussions about Pérez's future. "It's not a nice situation for him to obviously be in."
Braced for a decisive conversation with Pérez, Horner and Red Bull's racing adviser Helmut Marko will meet with the driver on December 9—just a day after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale sheds light on the final standings.
Red Bull is in a position where it cannot outright dismiss Pérez due to the conditions of his 2025 extension. However, the team is considering transitioning him into a broader role within the organization as an ambassador.
The unexpected shakeup mirrors a recent scenario involving Daniel Ricciardo, who, when removed from Red Bull's sister team, opted to sever his association entirely rather than accept a different role. This parallel serves as a precedent for the decisions looming ahead.
Looking towards the future, Red Bull's junior driver Liam Lawson seems poised to succeed Pérez. Lawson's promotion to the main team seemed more likely than the appointment of Williams' up-and-comer Franco Colapinto, whose chance dimmed following costly incidents in Brazil and Las Vegas. Despite the setbacks, Horner still recognized Colapinto's potential: "He, for sure, is a talent that's looking to earn his permanent place in Formula 1."
Another Red Bull protégé, Isack Hadjar, is a strong contender for a promotion if he clinches the Formula 2 title, taking his talent from the junior ranks to become Yuki Tsunoda's teammate. Hadjar is slated for significant exposure, participating in Abu Dhabi's first practice and subsequent testing.
As for Pérez, the season has been a challenging one; his performance paled compared to that of his teammate Max Verstappen. Pérez hasn't finished in the top six since the Miami Grand Prix in May, a slump that Red Bull correlates with its slide to third place in the constructors' championship, behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Verstappen, meanwhile, enjoys a comfortable lead in the drivers' standings, overshadowing Pérez by a staggering 227 points—the widest gap under the current scoring system.
Should Pérez eventually part ways with Red Bull, potential opportunities await, potentially with Cadillac in the 2026 season. His popularity in North America could pave the way back into the circuit amid F1's expanding presence there and the anticipated inclusion of a General Motors-backed team.
All eyes will remain fixed on Red Bull as the curtain closes on the 2024 season, foreshadowing the final verdict on Pérez's tenure with the esteemed racing outfit.
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