Sergio Pérez faces a career-defining moment as Red Bull prepares to decide his future after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Following a tumultuous 2024 campaign marked by underperformance, Pérez has been given two final opportunities to prove he deserves to stay with the team for 2025.
“A Season of Struggles for Pérez”
Pérez’s performance this season has been a shadow of his teammate Max Verstappen’s dominance. The Mexican driver currently sits a staggering 251 points behind Verstappen, a gap that has played a major role in Red Bull’s failure to secure the Constructors’ Championship.
While Red Bull has publicly backed Pérez throughout the year, team advisor Helmut Marko has made it clear that patience is wearing thin.
“I don’t know the exact gap now, but I think Checo has over 200 points less than Max. And then it’s clear that the constructors’ title is no longer possible,” Marko told ORF.
“If Sergio was anywhere near [Lewis] Hamilton, [George] Russell, or even McLaren, then we would be well ahead again.”
Pérez’s struggles were epitomized in Las Vegas, where he qualified a dismal 16th – his sixth Q1 elimination of the season – and managed only a solitary point with a 10th-place finish.
“Pérez Blames the Car, Red Bull Looks at Options”
Pérez has frequently attributed his poor performances to the RB20’s handling issues. After the Las Vegas GP, he voiced confidence in Red Bull’s ability to rectify its 2024 struggles, saying:
“We really need to solve the issues we’ve had this year. I think the team knows exactly where we are at, and Red Bull is the best team. I believe that we can have a much better car for next year.”
However, Red Bull’s unique position of having four contracted drivers—plus options on others—intensifies the competition for Pérez’s seat. The team is reportedly considering several alternatives:
- Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson: Both currently drive for AlphaTauri (RB) and have shown flashes of potential. Lawson’s impressive performances during his fill-in stints this year have especially raised eyebrows.
- Franco Colapinto: The Argentinian rookie, driving for Williams, has emerged as a dark horse after an eye-catching debut season.
- Internal Testing Dynamics: Tsunoda is set to test the Red Bull car after Abu Dhabi, further signaling that Pérez’s seat could be in jeopardy.
“Christian Horner Keeps His Cards Close”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been tight-lipped about the team’s 2025 plans but acknowledged the pressure to deliver results. Following the Las Vegas GP, Horner stated:
“Anything regarding the drivers remains between the company and the drivers involved. But if there was something to say, I’d tell you.”
“Two Races to Decide Pérez’s Future”
With just the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remaining, Pérez is effectively on trial. His performance in these final rounds will be critical as Red Bull’s management team convenes after the season finale to make their decision.
“There will be a meeting after Abu Dhabi,” Marko confirmed. “The result of this meeting will be presented to the shareholders, and they will then decide what the driver situation for both teams will look like for next year.”
“High Stakes in Red Bull’s Driver Dilemma”
For Pérez, the writing is on the wall: deliver standout performances in the next two races or risk losing one of the most coveted seats in Formula 1. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s leadership faces the challenging decision of whether to invest in the experience Pérez offers or gamble on a younger, hungrier driver for 2025.
The spotlight now shifts to Pérez’s ability to rise under immense pressure—a final act in what has been one of the most turbulent seasons of his career.
