Christian Horner outlines what wasn’t ‘really an option’ for Sergio Perez after Red Bull exit

Sergio Perez has officially confirmed his exit from Red Bull after four years with the team.

Speculation had been rife for months as to whether the Mexican would be out of the Milton Keynes-based outfit at the end of the year following a dismal 2024 campaign.

Perez finished eighth in the Drivers’ Championship as he failed to finish on the podium after the Chinese Grand Prix. Despite having a car that was no longer the strongest package after the halfway point of the season, teammate Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive title with 437 points; 285 ahead of Perez.

The 34-year-old’s woeful form ultimately denied them the constructors’ title as they finished third behind McLaren and Ferrari. Juan Pablo Montoya says Perez cost Red Bull £23m in 2024 – presumably through crash damages and losing the constructors’ – which is simply unsustainable for a team wanting to fight at the front.

Discussions within the Red Bull hierarchy took place after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to evaluate their options and figure out what to do with the Mexican. Perez’s last radio message was telling as it seemed as if he knew he was leaving Red Bull after he did not sound upset following his retirement from the race.

Sure enough, on Wednesday, the news came out that the 34-year-old will part ways from Red Bull before the 2025 season – which he was contracted for having signed an extension earlier this year.

Christian Horner says a move to Visa Cash App RB was not an option for Sergio Perez

After his departure from Red Bull, many have wondered where the Mexican will head next in his career. There are several categories Perez could move to in 2025, but many have questioned if he could stay in F1.

Red Bull have two teams on the grid – the main team and their junior outfit, now called Visa Cash App RB – and they have commonly moved drivers to and from the two squads, including demoting drivers from the main team to RB.

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This was seen with the likes of Daniil Kvyat, who was dropped back to the Faenza outfit – then Toro Rosso – in 2016 to make way for Verstappen. Pierre Gasly was also demoted from Red Bull in 2019 and was replaced by Alex Albon – who was later dropped entirely by the organisation in 2021.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was asked the question on Sky Sports as to whether Perez could also drop down to the junior outfit, but the 51-year-old said that this was not ‘really an option’ for the Mexican.

“I think at the stage that Checo’s at in his career, that wouldn’t really have been an option for him,” said Horner.

“It was nothing that we really ever discussed or didn’t discuss or even talk about. So, he’s come to this decision now and obviously we support it fully.”

Who will be racing for Visa Cash App RB in 2025?

With Perez not out of Red Bull, it is between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda who will get the vacant seat next to Verstappen.

An announcement is expected this week, but it is assumed that Lawson will be the driver to get the promotion from RB.

READ MORE: All to know about Visa Cash App RB from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

The Kiwi driver has impressed Red Bull with his appearances at the Faenza team as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement in 2023 and 2024. Helmut Marko says Lawson must show he can ‘race again’ if he is to be given the Red Bull seat.

With the 22-year-old set to move up, there will be a seat available at RB, with F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar looking likely to move up and join the F1 grid.

Franco Colapinto was previously linked with RB, but the team cooled their interest in the Argentine after his multiple accidents towards the end of 2024 with Williams.