Perez focused on performace after contract “distraction” relief

Sergio Perez said he is glad to have the “distraction” of negotiations “out of the way” after signing a two-year contract extension with Red Bull earlier this week, leaving the team free to focus on regaining “performance” in Canada.

Perez joined the Milton-Keynes-based outfit in 2020, putting together a solid portfolio of results since as Max Verstappen’s obedient teammate.

His place at the top team was naturally under threat as this year’s game of musical chairs kicked off, with Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz both rumoured to be taking the Mexican’s seat in 2025, however, Perez’s solid efforts this season helped to lockdown his future sooner rather than later.

“I think like every negotiation, you always have a process to go through, which is not always really nice to do it in between the races where everything is flat out,” Perez said.

“So it’s really nice to get this distraction for the team and for myself out of the way so that we can focus on pure performance.” 

“It really means that both parties are happy with what we got and happy to move forward, and obviously, we’ve got great targets ahead of us. 

“Red Bull is a team that really takes everything out of you. It’s something that since I came here, the amount of how intense everything is on track, off track, and it’s a challenge you don’t have anywhere else. 

“I haven’t had that sort of challenge in my career. 

“When I sign, I’m really up for it and willing to give my 100%.”

It was a very poor weekend in Monaco for the #11 side of the Red Bull garage, with Perez’s woeful qualifying performance leaving him out of points contention at the back of the grid.

Hoping for a miracle, the Mexican received the opposite fate when he was taken out by Kevin Magnussen through Beau Rivage, completely dismembering his RB20.

Two weeks on, the Canadian Grand Prix poses the perfect chance for Perez to bounce back, fuelled by the added confidence of the long-term backing from his team.

“I hope it’s not as severe as it was in Monaco with the right issues that we had there,” the #11 said.

“We’ve done some work, some analysis, and I think it’s great to have straightaway sort of a similar challenge to Monaco in many aspects. 

“So it will be an interesting one, but I do expect us to be a little bit stronger. 

“I don’t think it will be our strongest track, but I really hope that we can be fighting up there.”

In recent rounds, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes have all cut down on Red Bull’s dominance, with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc the most recent non-Red Bull winners in Miami and Monaco. 

As a result, it was no surprise to hear Perez admitting that he’d reached out to rival teams during what he described as “straightforward negotiations”.

“I mean, you’re always talking to two different teams. 

“There were other options out there, but for me, my plan A, B, and C was definitely to stay at Red Bull. 

“I really want to finish my career here, wherever that is. 

“It’s a team that has given me so much into my career that I’m just really happy. And yeah, I just want to give my best to this team until my last lap.”

Additionally, Perez said this contract won’t be his last.

The 34-year-old is taking inspiration from the new benchmark Fernando Alonso is setting, saying that there is still “a long way to go” in his career.

“I think I didn’t sign my last contract. I don’t think I’ve done that. 

“I don’t think it’s something that you feel, because when you commit to two years in Formula 1, it’s a lot of time, a lot of energy, and it’s a long way down the line. 

“What I’m pretty sure about is that I want to finish my career at Red Bull.”

2024 Canadian Grand Prix Schedule:

Saturday June 8th:

FP1: 3:30 – 4:30

FP2: 7:00 – 8:00

Sunday June 9th:

FP3: 2:30 – 3:30

Qualifying: 6:00 – 7:00

Monday June 10th:

Race: 4:00

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