Sergio Perez secured the second-place trophy at the Japanese Grand Prix, finishing just behind his teammate Max Verstappen.
Perez’s contract with Red Bull expires next year. The Mexican driver aims to leave a lasting impression on the team and remind them why they hired him in 2021. According to the Red Bull team principal, the Japanese GP was a successful race for the 34-year-old driver. During the race, Perez made a daring move on another driver in the 130R corner, which was humorously described by the 50-year-old team principal.
In the latter part of the 2023 season, Sergio Perez had one of the worst races of his career, raising doubts about his place at Red Bull. As a result, the 34-year-old driver was determined to prove his worth and secure his spot for the next season at the Japanese GP.
Perez’s mission was accomplished, even though it made Christian Horner nervous to see him making daring overtakes at high speeds. The 50-year-old team principal admitted that Perez drove as if his life depended on it, without considering the responsibilities he has at home.
Perez has played a supporting role for his teammate in the 2024 season so far. However, the Mexican driver is determined to provide a tough challenge to his world champion teammate for the title this season. Perez qualified just six hundredths of a second behind Verstappen at the Japanese GP.
Perez later explained his daring moves during the race, stating that he was stuck behind a slower car and concerned about tire wear. He decided to make a move that reminded him of a famous maneuver by another driver at the famous 130R corner.
This performance could strengthen Perez’s case as the team’s best option for the 2025 season. As a six-time winner, Perez is constantly at risk of losing his seat to a fast Spanish driver. However, it is unknown whether Red Bull will choose to extend Perez’s contract with the team beyond this season.
