Sergio Pérez is set to exit Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season, according to sources.
Talks are doing rounds that Red Bull have decided to move on from Pérez after Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner hinted at Pérez’s impending exit 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,” Horner said when asked about the Mexican driver’s future. “It’s not a nice situation for him to obviously be in.”
Further deliberation on the matter will be held between Horner and Red Bull racing adviser Helmut Marko on December 9, the day after the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
As per the 2025 contract extension Sergio Pérez signed earlier this year, he cannot be sacked outright, but can be moved into a wider ambassadorial role within the company.
Daniel Ricciardo was given a similar option when dropped from junior RB’s team in September but decided to cut ties with the company instead.
Liam Lawson, who replaced Ricciardo at the US Grand Prix, appears to be the top contender to step up from the junior team and replace Pérez’s place.
Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar, who could win the Formula 2 championship in Abu Dhabi, would reportedly step up as Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate.
Hadjar is doing early practice for Red Bull in Abu Dhabi as well as the test that follows the race next week.
The departure of Checo Pérez from Red Bull seems to be driven by a combination of factors. His awful form this year has made his exit from RB inevitable. He has failed to finish inside the top six since the Miami Grand Prix in May.
His poor form is blamed for the team’s positioning in the constructors’ championship, having slipped to third behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Pérez is a staggering 227 points behind Verstappen, the largest margin between a world champion and that driver’s teammate in a season under the current points system.
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The question then is where could Perez possibly head to after RB. Cadillac seems an option for him, given his huge popularity and marketing reach in North America. F1 has an agreement in principle with General Motors to form an 11th team for that season.
