Formula 1 has been as competitive as it has ever been in 2024, with three teams still in the fight for the constructors’ championship with two races to go.
Seven drivers have won multiple races for the first time in the sport’s history, while Max Verstappen became just the fifth driver to claim four consecutive driver’s titles.
It looks as if things might get even more fascinating for 2025, as storylines change in the final year of the current technical regulations – where competition is often at its stiffest.
Lewis Hamilton heads to Ferrari, Mercedes welcomes a new young gun to their ranks and Red Bull may have a new driver too – so expect one of the greatest seasons in history.
Sergio Perez ‘should have’ retired in Mexico
Only one driver within the top four teams has failed to win a race this year – Sergio Perez, teammate of the championship winner.
The car has won multiple races and sprints and is clearly capable of much more in the hands of someone else with more confidence.
The Mexican has failed to reach Q3 on nine occasions and has qualified six positions lower than Verstappen on average.
READ MORE: Christian Horner sets Sergio Perez target before the end of the season amid Red Bull exit suggestions
One of the more problematic issues is that the situation doesn’t appear to be improving, and although he has a contract for 2025, his position is coming under fire.
Ex-F1 driver Marc Surer issued a damning statement in a piece for Motorsport-Total.com after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, taking aim at Perez following another poor performance.
“He should have announced his retirement in Mexico,” he said.
Where does Perez’s future lie now?
From a performance standpoint, there’s no way that Red Bull can afford to keep Perez in their ranks – it has already cost them nearly $20 million (£16 million) in constructors’ championship prize money this year.
That’s without including some of the crash damage from the likes of Monaco, Baku and Hungary – which will have cost them in both development potential and upgrades.
There are only two races left this season at the Qatar Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but as Surer said, it feels like the Mexican may have missed his opportunity for a fairy tale goodbye.
READ MORE: Danica Patrick tells Red Bull to make ‘great’ Sergio Perez decision after the Las Vegas Grand Prix
A decision regarding his future may be out of his hands, and with plenty of options looming to replace him, he will just have to focus on enjoying the remainder of 2024.
It could be Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda or maybe even Franco Colapinto – no one quite knows yet, but a decision will have to be made soon ahead of 2025.
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