Sergio Perez has insisted he will not be relegated to Red Bull’s second Formula 1 team next year.
Red Bull motorsport director Helmut Marko has claimed the team’s shareholders will discuss Perez’s future at the team after the final race of the season. The team has previously demoted drivers from Red Bull to its junior team, now known as RB.But Perez stated he will spend a fifth season at Red Bull in 2025. “I’ve been 14 years in the sport and I don’t speak about my contracts publicly and so I will not comment on that,” he said. “I know exactly where I am and I would not speak about it publicly.”
Asked whether he will remain at Red Bull Racing next year Perez said: “Exactly.”
Perez’s future has been a subject of speculation throughout the season, despite Red Bull extending his contract in June, as his performances have consistently failed to impress.
While team mate Max Verstappen has won eight grands prix and cinched the drivers’ championship last week, Perez hasn’t finished in the top five over the last 16 rounds. He’s taken just nine points from the last six rounds and Red Bull look set to lose the constructors’ championship they won over the past two seasons.
However Perez expects Red Bull to keep their faith in him. “At the end of the day, the team has all the information and there’s a reason why we extended my contract during the year,” he said.
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“We exactly know where we are in terms of performance, in terms of issues, difficulties that we’ve had. We are a team. We know exactly internally where everything stands. So we’re working really hard as a team to come through and get back into a much better season than the one that we just had.”
He was eliminated in Q1 last weekend, started 15th and took one point for 10th place. However Perez said his pace during the grand prix was encouraging at times.
“I think in Vegas mainly the main issue we had was qualifying,” he explained. “We went out in Q1 and straight away after qualifying we understood why, we saw it, it was very clear in the data.
“But then we were on the back foot and then going on to the race with the degradation that we had, we were not expecting it to be so severe, especially in the beginning. So we went for the hard tyre, which I also degraded, that meant I had to spend quite a lot of the race on the medium. So it compromised the race a lot. But we did have some good pace during the race.”
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sim
29th November 2024, 12:26
Interesting, that he’s so confident he’ll still in the RB when RB have given the impression that all four RB drivers can be switched around, he must bring a LOT of money with him, enough to cover the cost of RB dropping two places in the constructors, enough to cover his own salary – plus maybe they’d have to buy him out of his contract after extending it if he was dropped.
SteveP
29th November 2024, 12:58
He said he knows exactly where he will be. He didn’t say where that exactly was, but he also said “I’ve been 14 years in the sport and I don’t speak about my contracts publicly…”
So we can assume that this is a story of nothing.
Perez said a collection of words that amount to “I know, and you don’t” and it’s reported as though it is something new.
anon
29th November 2024, 13:14
If you believe the reports in the Spanish press, such as in Marca, Perez’s sponsorship is worth at least $30 million a year, and may even be as high as $40 million a year.
Now, the exact cost of Perez’s salary is not entirely certain, but if you believe the Racefans site, Perez’s salary is $14 million. Meanwhile, based on the figures Motorsport Magazine is quoting for prize money for the constructors title, the difference between 1st and 3rd would be around $18 million, giving a combined cost to the team of $32 million.
Whilst acknowledging the speculative nature of the figures, those figures would suggest that, if Perez’s sponsorship was near the lower end of the scale, it would still be roughly equalling the cost of his salary and the lost revenue from the WCC. If his sponsorship is closer to $40 million, Red Bull would be making a net profit of $8 million a year from Perez even by finishing 3rd in the WCC.
Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
29th November 2024, 14:47
And that’s in the case the driver replacing Perez is either driving for free or has his salary covered by his own sponsors…
notagrumpyfan
29th November 2024, 16:01
Colapinto is rumoured to (potentially) bring in much more sponsorship than what one should expect his salary to be.
Thus the Perez option is not that break-even/advantageous as per anon’s calculations.
But there are more financial/other implications:
– lower FIA fees for the team;
– lower super-licence fee for the driver (typically picked up by the team);
– more aero testing time (windtunnel and bits);
– being closer to pit exit;
– lower performance bonuses for staff*.
* of course this is /s, referring to the explanation by team management (and gullible acceptation by others) why they would not voluntarily target a lower WCC position.
Dane
29th November 2024, 12:41
So, retirement for Checo then?
notagrumpyfan
29th November 2024, 12:48
That would not be consistent with this stament:
It doesn’t discard a reserve driver role though.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 13:46
Usually when drivers deny they will be demoted, then that happens, it’s happened with albon and so on, so hopefully, cause this performance is unacceptable.
Coventry Climax
29th November 2024, 12:54
Perez also denies he’s a lousy driver.
There’s no point asking the butcher if his meat is OK; ask the customers – and check with their doctors.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 13:26
There’s no more evidence that he’s a lousy driver than Gasly, Albon, and Verstappen. Verstappen is just a bit faster as we’ve seen. Put Verstappen in Perez’s car and he’ll probably run Horner and Marko over in the 1st race.
SPArtacus
29th November 2024, 13:46
It’s seems you’re sinking deeper into these weird and deeply unsupportable claims. Your argument now being Max is no more than average w/your evidence being that even Gasly is better than Max because he qualified higher in the Alpine than Max in Vegas + all teammates of his are sabotaged. Clutching at straws as some call it.
SteveP
29th November 2024, 14:43
The car as designed, and then modified during the season, matches Verstappen’s driving style and not Perez.
When they have both been “improved” for an easier drive based on the input from the dominant driver, why would it matter which of them a particular driver gets into?
anon
29th November 2024, 15:14
SteveP, the upgrade packages that Red Bull have introduced this season have not always been applied symmetrically to each car, and sometimes Perez had used different specification components to those Max has used or only received part of an upgrade package.
For example, Perez used an older specification floor for the US, Mexican and Brazilian GPs, and the older specification floor produced less downforce and weighed more than the newer specification floor that was fitted only to Verstappen’s car. The newer specification floor is also credited with improving the handling balance of the RB20 and helping to mitigate some of the issues the team ran into earlier in the season.
It would therefore matter, in that situation, whether Verstappen was using a car set up to Perez’s specification instead, given that it would have been an older and less capable specification to what he was equipped with.
SteveP
29th November 2024, 17:38
True, but generally whenever the spec was equal, their performance was decidedly not. Older spec was usually a reversion at Perez request from all the reports.
BTW. Don’t forget, I’m not a Verstappen fan. (3WDC + one case of stolen goods, should summarise things)
anon
29th November 2024, 22:52
SteveP, saying that “Older spec was usually a reversion at Perez request from all the reports.” doesn’t seem to be quite right.
In the case that I’ve given previously, where Perez used an older specification floor for the US, Mexican and Brazilian GPs, that definitely was not at Perez’s request – on the contrary, he asked if he could use the newer configuration floor, but that request was rejected by the team.
notagrumpyfan
29th November 2024, 16:10
If the time sheets, race results, and WDC standing does not convince you, then maybe Will Wood’s fortnightly rating (or any other, more or less reputed, rating) can convince you.
But freelittlebirds is not known to follow measurable information, but rather flies his/her own direction, listening to his/her own wings flapping as if it’s the gospel. :P
Coventry Climax
29th November 2024, 19:40
To you and all the comments on that: Even if Perez has (or would have had) other spec updates, he’s had ample opportunity to prove himself worthy of receiving the latest as well updates as well, but he’s failed to do so nearly each and all occasions.
I sincerely doubt that Red Bull willingly and knowingly sabotages Perez’ side of the garage. If they do get different spec components though, but there’s a more than valid reason to put it on Verstappen’s car, as he actually performs with it. Then when Perez gets things basically nothing happens.
Benhur
29th November 2024, 23:19
yup, eejitbird, we all know your hamster drives faster than Max
BamBoomBots
29th November 2024, 12:58
Perez would be stupid to accept a demotion to, for all intents and purposes, is still a training team for the main team, both for the drivers and the technical personnel. It would constitute to him admitting he needs to learn to be an F1-driver.
Either he stays, leaves to a different team, or he leaves F1 altogether. But I would be very surprised to see him at Toro Rosso or whatever it’s called now. I would consider that team to be the least likely for his possible move, of all teams that would reasonably consider him as a driver for next year (i.e. excluding Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren).
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 13:24
I think it’s the smart thing to do – he can show off his true pace without interference from Red Bull. Isn’t that what Gasly did? It could buy him another 5-10 years in F1.
SPArtacus
29th November 2024, 13:49
Maybe even 20 years. He could work his way back up to Ferrari and pair with Leclerc or even Max if he ends up there. Then, after 3 straight seasons of scoring a 1:8 average, we can start the cycle again.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 16:13
It seems to have worked for Gasly and Albon.
SPArtacus
30th November 2024, 7:42
Albon? All the guy has shown is that he can beat two of F1’s worst drivers in recent history: Latiffi and Sargeant. All it took to make him start falling apart was a decent rookie.
Gasly? Nothing’s changed. He’s always been a solid, slight about average driver. He just looked silly next to Max.
SteveP
29th November 2024, 17:39
Cards R’ Us ??
FERNANDO Martins (@fmrace)
29th November 2024, 13:04
Perez arrogance is backed by $30M from Carlos Slim. He should have a little humility and be ashamed of his performance.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 13:23
@fmrace You don’t know Perez’s pace until you see him in another car. If he were in the Alpine, he may have been ahead of Verstappen in Brazil and Las Vegas.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 13:40
Brazil, seeing how quick the alpines were, it’s not unthinkable he’d have been up there too, but not ahead of verstappen; vegas no way.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 16:06
Gasly was eliminated but he was having a good race. Regardless, the point is they’d be very close in a car that has less than 10% of the points that the Red Bull has.
SPArtacus
29th November 2024, 13:55
Yeah, Perez is winning that race easily. Think about all the other races he won outside of Red Bull. In the Pink Mercedes that even Lance took pole with, he won in Sakhir with Lance in third and Ocon second. And that was on pure merit with Max and Leclerc both out after T1. Based on that, I think we can agree he’s a lot better than Max.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
29th November 2024, 13:06
RB wouldn’t want him.
Please put him out to stud.
I’m bored of the narrative. Not even Drive To Survive could make it interesting, or put a positive spin on it.
Just announce he’s leaving, then give him a nice farewell.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 13:29
@eurobrun how do you know that he’s slow? Because he can’t perform in the Red Bull? That’s happened with so many drivers who are still driving in F1 instead of being retired. That’s the Red Bull narrative.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 13:41
He certainly can do better at a lesser team, but he’s spent so long there now that all seats are taken.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 13:22
Well, most team principals would agree that if Perez was in Gasly’s Alpine, he would have outperformed Verstappen in Brazil and Las Vegas so it’s the team that’s causing the problems for Perez.
Perez has served his purpose which is to keep Max a champion and Red Bull’s WCC championships. If he has trouble scoring points clearly, they have the argument that there’s no advantage gained and the car is as slow as a Williams.
They don’t need that anymore and they can’t play the card again with the FIA.
Horner should teach at Harvard how to manipulate results. They’d have way more billionaires than they do now with just a whopping 188. Hats off to Christian. I don’t like the practice but this is clearly a real-time re-enactment of the Sting with Oscar worthy performances from everyone.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 13:42
Don’t see where you’re getting this from, perez would’ve probably performed like the best alpine driver in brazil, and in vegas they were nowhere compared to red bull.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th November 2024, 13:43
Also if the WCC was the purpose too like you said, perez failed miserably, it’s his own fault they lost the constructor’s this year.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 16:09
Wasn’t Gasly P3 on the grid compared to P5 for Max? I think if the Alpine outqualifies the Red Bull when they have 49 pts vs 555 pts, I wouldn’t call that nowhere. It’s an astonishing result for Alpine.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
29th November 2024, 16:15
I think it’s pretty clear to everyone that Red Bull’s main car is no longer performing as it did at the start of the season, otherwise Red Bull was headed for 900 points.
F180 (@f180)
29th November 2024, 14:15
There is no way a RB contract favors a driver regardless of performance. There a multiple examples of sackings mid-season. Why Perez has been spared? The only reason to keep Checo is money, and the amount of money from Telmex has to be big, enough to compensate WCC. Props to Horner and Max. Win WDC and get aero time to compensate Neweys loss while Perez pays the bills. Look how quiet is Joss now.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
29th November 2024, 14:17
They won’t. They’ll demote him outside of F1.
Ideals (@ideals)
29th November 2024, 14:35
People always assume everyone is on a Red Bull junior contract where they’re allowed to switch you between teams and keep you on the same contract.
I guarantee you Max and Checo don’t have this contract.
Perez will definitely not be driving for RB, but that doesn’t mean he’ll drive for Red Bull either. That said, who even knows at this point what Red Bull is thinking, he seems bullet proof for whatever reason. Must have some Piquet Jr. level of leverage on Horner.
SteveP
29th November 2024, 14:51
Interesting, because both Horner and Marko have said they are free to put any of their drivers in any seat of the four.
Two possibilities come out of this:
1. You’re wrong, and CH/HM have given a truthful answer.
2. You’re right, and CH/HM are telling porkies.
Yeah, not an easy one, but looks like you might be right ;)
Ideals (@ideals)
29th November 2024, 15:10
Any of their junior team drivers that they sign to RB will have this contract. Max and Checo are not on junior team contracts. Do you really think Max has a 40 million contract that says “yeah, if we feel like it we can move you to the backmarker team no questions asked?” Come on.
Checo meanwhile was signed to Red Bull directly in a post season. Carlos Slim isn’t going to sponsor RB, so that contract will definitely be Red Bull exclusive.
Granted I can proof none of this, but I’d be willing to bet a lot of money on this being pretty darn accurate.
SteveP
29th November 2024, 18:38
CH specifically said ALL, but then it’s CH and his relationship with the truth is, erm, a little distant.
SPArtacus
30th November 2024, 7:46
This is an extremely naive take. I’d literally wager my life for $20 in return that Max’s contract does not say they can demote him to RB under any conditions. Would you also take Horner on his word or literally anytime he says something? I know the answer is no.
Jere (@jerejj)
29th November 2024, 14:49
That wouldn’t happen in any case, i.e., either Red Bull Racing as contracted or sacking.
Edvaldo
29th November 2024, 14:59
He brings them too much money to race for RB, there’s no point in racing there.
Either they take him or drop him because he won’t accept less than what he has at this point in his career.
And by the looks of it, if they drop him he’ll make some good money, so, way to go Sergio!
SPArtacus
30th November 2024, 7:49
Exactly. Anyone suggesting this is not a serious a person. I mean, it is possible, but unlikely there could be a swap with a reduced sponsorship level assuming Perez would rather go to RB than retire and it’s RBR’s only way of levering Perez out of his seat.
Dex
29th November 2024, 15:01
Can he also deny that, judging by his results and his performance, he doesn’t deserve to be a part of his current team? That’s more important, and if you want to be cocky, at least do that right.
The Dolphins
29th November 2024, 15:27
Except for that one time in Monaco en route to the podium…
Jere (@jerejj)
30th November 2024, 8:35
Not to mention Marko’s words don’t even have anything to do with contract context, so he half-deliberately misinterpreted the question’s intention.
stefano (@alfa145)
29th November 2024, 15:35
yeah, usually this is the first step in a chain of events that lead to the demotion of the driver. I expect Perez to not complete 2025 season with Red Bull. If he even starts it, I wouldn’t be sure, especially if his last two races are as bad as usual or worse.