Despite rumors of an early departure from Formula 1 and several other drivers competing for the second position at Oracle Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez secured another two years with the team based in Milton Keynes.
The Mexican driver will be teammates with Max Verstappen in the next era of F1, which is set to begin in 2026. Details of this new technical generation were recently announced.
Perez has struggled to keep up with the speed and consistency of Verstappen since joining Red Bull in 2021. Early eliminations in qualifying and accidents, particularly at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, raised doubts about Perez’s future in F1.
With changes happening at Red Bull, including the departure of Technical Director Adrian Newey and investigations against Team Principal Christian Horner, Verstappen believes that Perez’s contract extension brings much-needed stability. F2/F3 commentator and racing driver Alex Brundle shares this sentiment.
Speaking exclusively to GRANDPRIX247, Brundle expressed that he was not surprised by the news of Perez staying at Red Bull until at least the end of 2026. He stated: “Considering the number of podiums Perez has achieved this year, I think he has done a commendable job. So it’s not a big surprise that he has been retained. But I see this as a strategic move by Red Bull. With the new regulations coming in 2026, stability is a sensible decision.”
Yuki Tsunoda from RB and Carlos Sainz Jr. from Ferrari were also considered for a possible switch to Red Bull before signing extensions with their current teams. Sainz Jr.’s contract expires at the end of the current season. Brundle acknowledged that other options were available to Red Bull, saying: “Yes, there were other options. Ultimately, teams have more data than us when it comes to evaluating a driver’s performance. And when you have a vacant seat, especially with a driver like Tsunoda who has ties to Red Bull, that is always considered. They would have explored all possibilities, and I believe the desires from the other side of the garage played a role in their decision.”
Brundle also emphasized the challenge any driver would face in keeping up with Verstappen’s performance: “Being Verstappen’s teammate is notoriously one of the toughest positions in Formula 1. It’s almost an impossible task. So I think it’s a challenging seat. Perez’s decision to stay is not irrational,” concluded the junior category commentator.
Perez had a disappointing competitive session after signing the contract extension with Red Bull. He failed to advance from Q1 during Saturday’s qualifying. He will be aiming to gain positions during the race, which starts at 19:00 BST (14:00 local time) on Sunday, June 9.
