Sergio Perez, Red Bull Formula 1 driver, is to fight for his seat at the team in 2025. Next year season is the last in his current contract with the team.
The Meixcan started the season strongly but his campaign went on a roller coaster as the season progressed. His performance dipped during the mid while he managed to bounce back at the end.
Currently, Red Bull is committed to Perez for 2024 season. However, it expressed its clear intention of closely monitoring his performance. It needs Perez to keep his ground more consistently at the front if he wants to keep his seat at RB.
The squad has time to make the decision because it has a reserve driver, Daniel Ricciardo, to fill in if needed. The team intends to not rush for Max Verstappen’s team-mate in 2025.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, shared the team’s thought process regarding Perez position beyond next year. He said: “I think the luxury position we’re in, is that we’re not in any rush.
“We’ve got loads of options and I think it is Checo’s seat to lose.
“He’s the one that we’re backing. He’s our 2024 driver. And if he does a great job next year, there’s no reason that we wouldn’t extend him into 2025. But it’d be purely based on what he achieves over what will be a large part of the season.”
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Horner believes that the rival team’s performance will close in on Red Bull next year. Therefore, it is a necessity for the team to have its both drivers at maximum performance.
This year Verstappen remained in a class of his own while his team-mate struggled among midfield.
Horner admitted that it remained challenging to race beside Verstappen.
“I think that being Max’s team-mate is tough, and I think that you’ve got to have a certain resolve and character to be prepared to go up against Max,” he said.
“But as the field converges, it is inevitable that you want your two cars as close together as you can achieve.
“With Checo, his race pace and his racing, has been very strong on many occasions. It’s his performance in qualifying that is probably the area that he needs to focus on over the winter.
“But he’s acutely aware that he’s got to up his qualifying average, so that he’s not having to come from so far back.”
