PÉREZ DEMANDS COMPLICATE RED BULL EXIT

Sérgio Pérez looks set to leave Red Bull racing at the end of this season, the Mexican’s poor performances costing his team any chance of fighting for the Constructors’ title.

Since the Miami Grand Prix – with the exception of Azerbaijan, where a late clash with Sainz robbed him of a podium finish – Pérez has never been a factor in the battle at the front of the field, leaving Max Verstappen to fight alone against two McLarens, two Ferraris and two Mercedes.

It’s been pretty clear in the last couple of months that neither Christian Horner or Helmut Marko have any faith the situation could improve for next year and that’s why Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto have all been considered as possible alternatives for the Mexican.

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The Kiwi, however, seems to be the team’s favored choice, as Tsunoda is still seen as a Honda driver with no future within the Austrian company and both Williams-contracted drivers would cost too much to be bought out of their contracts.

Pérez himself is aware that he’s lost the trust of the team and seems able to accept his Formula 1 career is coming to an abrupt end but having signed a new two-years deal earlier this season, is believed to be demanding in excess of A$18million to vacate his seat and leave it open for another driver.

In fact, the financial compensation seems to be the main sticking factor in the negotiations between the two parties, after the Mexican turned down an offer to remain part of the Red Bull family but only as a reserve driver. In the meantime, perhaps to help his compo case, he tells anyone who asks that he has a contract for 2025 and will race…

Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and Sergio Perez, during the Qatar GP. Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

Discussions about Perez’s future between Red Bull shareholders was set to take place the Monday directly after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Last week, Horne said that “Checo has had a very tough year,” pointing out that,“the points are what they are.” The English manager then vowed to “be very much focused on supporting him to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi,” admitting that “it’s not an enjoyable situation for Checo, being in this position with speculation every week.”

Then, Horner stated that “he’s old enough and wise enough to know what the situation is, and let’s see where we are after Abu Dhabi.”

Horner was clearly shocked with his driver’s decision to let Colapinto through at the start of the Sprint Race, explaining that, “we sent him to the end of the pit lane seven minutes ahead of Colapinto for a reason …”

Asked if the decision was entirely on Pérez’s hands, Horner sidesteped the issue, saying that, “I’m going to let Checo come to his own conclusions – nobody’s forcing him one way or another, but it’s not a nice situation for him to be in.”

As the final race of the season assembled, the Mexican insisted that, “nothing has changed since before in terms of what I’ve said for the entire year. I’ve got a contract for next year and I will be driving for Red Bull next year. Nothing further to add.”

Main Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

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