Sergio Perez is reportedly set to sign a new deal at Red Bull for the 2025 season. There had been uncertainty over Perez’s future, with his contract due to expire.
The Mexican improved his stock with a solid start to the campaign. While he couldn’t challenge the reigning world champion Max Verstappen, he did deliver three runner-up finishes in the first four races.
However, the 34-year-old has struggled since. He missed out on a podium at the Miami Grand Prix and then finished eighth at Imola after a shock Q2 exit.
Things took another turn for the worse in Monaco last weekend as he qualified an unthinkable 18th. His race was over within a few corners after contact with Kevin Magnussen.
Despite that, The Mirror report that Red Bull are ‘likely’ to hand him an extension. There has at least been harmony within the garage since he arrived in 2021.
The news will come as a blow to Carlos Sainz, who had been holding out for a call from Christian Horner rather than signing with Audi. Red Bull seem wary of further tension with Verstappen after a fractious year at Toro Rosso in 2015.
Yuki Tsunoda could leave Red Bull after Sergio Perez news
Perez’s new deal will also come as a blow to RB duo Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo. As members of the junior team, they will always be looking at openings in Horner’s squad.
Ricciardo started the year looking like a ‘dead-cert’ to replace Perez if he delivered. But he’s trailing Tsunoda 7-1 in qualifying and 6-2 in races this year.
Despite his dominance of the intra-team battle, the Japanese driver has been overlooked. Red Bull haven’t even given ‘serious consideration’ to promoting him.
And now, they risk losing an ’emerging talent’ from their driver stable. Tsunoda has earned plenty of ‘admirers’ with his form this season and ‘questions will be raised’ over his future within their ranks.
RB boss gives one-word answer on Yuki Tsunoda future amid Audi links
Tsunoda’s season got off to an inauspicious start in Bahrain when he clashed with the team over a late instruction to let Ricciardo past. They nearly collided on the cooldown lap after the chequered flag.
But from round three in Australia onwards, he’s scored points in five out of six races. He’s finished seventh twice (Melbourne and Miami) and he put another four points on the board in Monaco by coming home eighth.
That means he’s single-handedly responsible for 19 of RB’s 24 points. It’s difficult to see what more he could have done to earn a shot at Red Bull, or at least consideration for it.
Even if there were previously concerns over his temperament, he’s now addressed them. Helmut Marko said recently that a calmer demeanour had been key to his ‘excellent’ run of form.
The natural question is where he could go next. RB CEO Peter Bayer simply said ‘yes’ when asked if he wanted to retain Tsunoda for 2025.
But with the 24-year-old approaching the end of his deal and stuck under a glass ceiling at his current team, he may entertain rival offers. One of those could come from Audi.
The German giants will join the F1 grid in 2026 (when they take control of Sauber) with aspirations of winning the title within five years. Partnering him with Nico Hulkenberg could offer a strong blend of youth and experience.
Elsewhere, Tsunoda is apparently ‘in the mix’ for a seat at Haas, although they may not share the same upward mobility. He also believes that a 2026 switch to Aston Martin is a possibility as they enter an engine deal with his backers Honda.
With Fernando Alonso under contract, that would rely on Lance Stroll leaving the team. He may have to do so of his own volition given that his father Lawrence owns the team.
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