With Max Verstappen guaranteed until the end of 2028, Red Bull only needs to decide on one Formula 1 driver. The seat currently belongs to Sergio Pérez, who is at the end of his contract, but the decision is likely to take some time.
The Mexican hopes to hear news about his future ‘in the coming weeks’, but these plans do not seem to align with those of the Austrian team. Team principal Christian Horner admitted that the decision will take a while, stating at the press conference this Friday in Shanghai:
– It’s not very close, I’m afraid. It’s amazing that we are in the fifth race and there is already so much talk about drivers for next year. We are in a situation where we are very happy with our two drivers. But we don’t need to make a decision about the lineup until much later this year.
The Briton expressed satisfaction with Pérez, considering that he is driving ‘extremely well’ at the beginning of the season. And when asked about the reasons for this possible improvement in form, he replied: ‘Probably because he is out of contract! No, I believe he worked hard during the winter. He comes with a slight change in his approach to Grand Prix races and he has been very close in the four races of this season so far, particularly in Suzuka where he had some difficulties last year, but he was certainly very competitive this year’.
