Sergio Perez has signed a new contract at Red Bull. His previous deal was due to expire at the end of the season, but he’s now earned an extension from the world champions.
Just like in 2022, Perez has penned a two-year agreement. It’s unclear whether he’s guaranteed to stay for the 2026 season, or whether he has to meet certain performance clauses to trigger that option.
Either way, he’s retained the faith of Red Bull despite a drop in form in recent races. Perez made a solid, if unspectacular, start to the campaign with three runner-up finishes in the first four races.
But the Mexican hasn’t finished that high since, slipping off the podium in Miami before a major decline in the last two events. After a four-point showing at Imola, he crashed out in Monaco, having started both races outside the top 10.
Christian Horner and co. will back Perez to reassert himself in the coming races. They certainly need him to with the threat of Ferrari looming large in the constructors’ championship.
All indications are that Max Verstappen gets on well with the former McLaren driver, who’s very rarely able to beat him. But in the fourth year of their partnership, he may need his help in races more than ever.
Sergio Perez says Max Verstappen is a brutal teammate
Speaking to German outlet Motorsport Magazin before he signed his new deal, Perez offered some insight into the experience of partnering Verstappen. He believes you need a certain character to survive.
He also feels he ‘would shine more’ up against a weaker opponent. Indeed, Perez was one of the most highly-rated drivers in F1 during his time at Force India/Racing Point, scoring seven podiums and winning a race in midfield machinery.
But Verstappen’s robotic consistency demands perfection on the opposite side of the garage. And it can force his teammates into a ‘vicious cycle’ when it comes to setting up the car.
Perez is the third driver to partner the Dutchman at Red Bull since the departure of Daniel Ricciardo at the end of 2018. Pierre Gasly only lasted six months before he was demoted back to Toro Rosso, while Alex Albon was gone within 18.
“I can only speak for myself,” he said. “But there is a reason why Red Bull doesn’t work for everyone.”
“I’m sure I would shine more with another teammate. And if you’re already having problems, and then you have a teammate like Max, who delivers like that weekend after weekend…”
“At some point you get into a vicious circle. You’re just chasing the car setup, even though there’s probably not much to be gained there.
“It might be best to make a fresh start and stay mentally strong. It can be really hard sometimes. At Red Bull you have to be mentally strong.”
Red Bull won’t ‘publicly admit’ key reason for snubbing Carlos Sainz
Heading into the season, Ricciardo looked a ‘dead-cert’ to replace Perez at Red Bull if he delivered at junior team RB. But that hasn’t happened.
Instead, it’s Yuki Tsunoda who’s dominated the head-to-head at RB, scoring 19 points to Ricciardo’s five. And with Red Bull refusing to even considering the Japanese driver, Perez’s main competition has been external.
Carlos Sainz has arguably been the top free agent on the market ever since Ferrari announced the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in the winter. He’s a three-time race-winner who’s scored 22 podiums in his career.
However, Red Bull were reluctant to hire him because he’d be a little too close to Verstappen in pace, something they won’t ‘publicly admit’. They’re also wary of reuniting their fathers, who were at loggerheads during their rookie campaigns at Toro Rosso in 2015.
While this decision is ostensibly about Perez, it would also have been made with one eye on Verstappen. It remains to be seen whether the three-time world champion remains at Red Bull for the duration of the 34-year-old’s new deal.
The post ‘Red Bull doesn’t work for everyone’: Sergio Perez makes ‘vicious’ admission about partnering Max Verstappen appeared first on F1 Oversteer.