Sergio Perez has made a ‘laughable’ request to Red Bull in negotiations over a new contract, former racing driver Robert Doornbos says. Perez is approaching the end of his deal with the reigning champions, whom he joined at the beginning of the 2021 season.
The Mexican finished second at the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend to complete a Red Bull one-two for the third time in four races. It was a solid recovery from a difficult race in Australia, where a visor tear-off became lodged in his floor and hampered his performance en route to fifth place.
Speaking on Ziggo Sport, Doornboss has offered his reaction to what he’s heard about the contract talks taking place at Milton Keynes right now. With the Bulls still a dominant force in F1, Perez’s seat may be the most coveted on the grid.
The 34-year-old finished runner-up behind Max Verstappen in the 2023 standings but the margin between the two was a record 290 points. While the Dutchman appears on course to win the title in dominant fashion once again this year, Perez has at least been closer so far.
He came within a matter of hundredths of snatching pole from Verstappen at Suzuka, before finishing just over 12 seconds behind on race day. Perez won particular acclaim for an overtake on Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton through the infamous 130R corner, though he did have a significant tyre advantage at the time.
The request Sergio Perez made to Helmut Marko and Red Bull
Doornboss, who competed in 11 Grands Prix in his career and raced three times for Red Bull, says Perez has asked for a three-year extension. His last deal, signed in the spring of 2022, ran for two.
Team director Helmut Marko has already turned down the request, Doornboss says, on the basis that he thinks Perez will ‘sit back’ if he knows that his future is secure. On the other hand, if he has to fight for his seat, it could bring out his best performances.
“That request is rejected by Marko,” he said. “He thinks even with a two-year deal, he’ll sit back and give up again.”
The gap between Verstappen and Perez in the championship stands at 13 points, though it may be considerably larger if the former had finished in Melbourne. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is their closest challenger, five points back from Perez.
Who could replace Perez?
There are plenty of drivers who may be on Red Bull’s radar for next year, with more than half of the 2024 F1 grid approaching the end of their contracts. Carlos Sainz, the only driver to stop the Bulls winning since the start of 2022, is available after Ferrari released him to make room for Hamilton.
Sainz was previously part of the Red Bull driver academy and spent the first two years of his career alongside Verstappen at Toro Rosso. Marko has said the team must consider the Spaniard, who has finished on the podium at every race he’s started this term.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso may also be holding out for an offer from Horner. However, Red Bull have been warned that they ‘absolutely cannot’ pair the 42-year-old with Verstappen.
Like Sainz, Williams driver Alex Albon is another who could make a return, but that may not come until 2026. The good news for Perez is that Daniel Ricciardo is struggling at RB, while there’s little to suggest that in-form teammate Yuki Tsunoda is under consideration.
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