The rumors have circulated in recent days, and now it’s official: Sergio Pérez is leaving Red Bull, marking what appears to be the end of his Formula 1 career.
Midway through the year, the Mexican driver extended his contract until the end of 2026. However, despite this stability, his results were disappointing, failing to deliver the expected performance.
In 2021, Pérez played a crucial role in securing Max Verstappen’s first championship and, last year, contributed to another title for Red Bull – while also helping the team achieve its first-ever 1-2 finish in the drivers’ standings.
This year, however, his performance decline was stark, and there were no signs of recovery. Up until the Miami GP, Pérez was regularly fighting for podiums and seemed to have what it took to secure his seat.
But when the RB20 ceased to be the dominant car it was at the start of the year, car #11 struggled significantly, never returning to podium contention. His best result was a sixth-place finish.
These results fell far short of Red Bull’s expectations and may have cost the team the Constructors’ Championship, with Red Bull finishing third overall. Pérez himself ended the season eighth in the Drivers’ Championship and was even outperformed by drivers from VCARB – including Liam Lawson, who is widely tipped as the leading candidate to replace him.
By Bernardo Matias