Sergio Pérez reflects on Red Bull departure, eyes F1 comeback
Sergio Pérez Reflects on Red Bull Departure and Eyes Formula 1 Comeback
Former Formula 1 driver Sergio Pérez has candidly discussed his departure from Red Bull Racing, sharing insights into the decision that ended his four-year stint with the team. Speaking on the Desde el Paddock podcast, the 35-year-old Mexican revealed new details surrounding his exit and expressed confidence that Red Bull regrets moving on from him.
"Deep down, they are very sorry [for cutting my contract], and I know this from a very good source," Pérez said, addressing the situation for the first time since leaving the team at the end of the 2024 season.
Red Bull announced New Zealand's Liam Lawson as Pérez's replacement for the 2025 campaign, but the decision quickly backfired. Lawson was demoted after just two races, and Yuki Tsunoda—who raced for Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s junior team—was promoted to fill the role. This string of decisions reflected broader turmoil within the team, according to Pérez, who pointed to key personnel changes as a destabilizing factor.
"With the departure of designer Adrian Newey, many more problems began," Pérez explained. "Then Jonathan Wheatley [Red Bull's sporting director until 2024 and now Sauber's team principal] left, who was a fundamental part of the team. Gradually, the team started falling apart."
Internal Pressure and Team Struggles
Pérez also opened up about internal pressures within Red Bull during his time there:
"There was a lot of pressure on my side of the garage… It was putting a lot of stress on the engineers, on everyone involved, and I think in the end that ended up costing us a lot," he reflected. "People might think I'm happy about [Red Bull's struggles], but no… we had a great team, and in the end, it fell apart, little by little."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner previously addressed Pérez's departure, emphasizing how the team sought to support him during a challenging period:
"We've tried everything with him and supporting him, and basically he has come to his own conclusion that I think now is the right time to step away from Formula 1 to take a bit of time out," Horner remarked in December.
Potential Comeback to Formula 1
Despite stepping away, Pérez is far from calling time on his Formula 1 career. Rumors suggest he could be a leading contender for the Cadillac F1 team’s debut in 2026. Pérez himself expressed a strong desire to return if the right opportunity emerges.
"Yes, I do, if the right project comes along that I feel is where I should be," Pérez confirmed. However, he was clear about his conditions for a comeback: "I don’t want to travel the world as a third driver. I want to go back because I don’t want to end my career like this. I’ll go back if it’s worth paying the price to be in F1."
In preparation for a potential return, Pérez has enlisted Khalil Beschir—a former Lebanese driver with ties to Pérez’s early career in Europe—as his new manager. Beschir, along with co-manager Luis Aguirre and Pérez himself, will oversee this chapter of his career.
Vision for the Future
While Pérez hinted that 2025 may not see him back on the grid, he outlined his vision for returning to F1 in a transformative role. He aims to replicate his notable achievements with Force India (now Aston Martin), a team he helped mold into a consistent competitor.
"I'm in no rush; we'll see what happens next year," Pérez said, highlighting his patience for the right project. "But I want to do something similar to what I did with Force India, gradually turn it into a winning team."
As the Formula 1 paddock continues to evolve with new faces and teams, Pérez’s remarks serve as a reminder of his tenacious spirit—and that his final chapter in the sport might still be unwritten.
Up Next
