Red Bull Racing and Sergio Perez look to be coming to the end of their four-year partnership.
After helping Max Verstappen win consecutive titles and Red Bull win a pair of Constructors’ Championships, Sergio Perez may be about to say goodbye to F1.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been the sight of some of the greatest days in Red Bull’s history.
Verstappen final-lap victory over Lewis Hamilton in 2021 is an iconic Formula 1 moment, but Sergio Perez’s contribution to that day can’t be forgotten.
The 34-year-old was notorious for being one of the sport’s best defensive drivers.
Unfortunately, he appears bereft of the confidence he showed during his final year at Racing Point that earned him a move to Red Bull in the first place.
Perez appears set to lose his Red Bull seat, but having signed a new contract halfway through this season, parting ways won’t be straightforward.
Performance clauses may have been removed from Perez’s contract, but speaking on the Unlapped Podcast, journalist Nate Saunders has explained how Red Bull could still end their association with Perez ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Sergio Perez could be removed from Red Bull in the same way as Daniel Ricciardo
Talking about Perez’s immediate future, Saunders said: “I understand after Abu Dhabi, Perez will meet with Helmut Marko and Christian Horner.
“They’ll discuss the season which is what they do with every driver at Red Bull at the end of the year.
“But I think with him as well what they will do is they will look at his contract and they’ll say, right we are moving you on from the team and this is where potentially it gets messy, where it could get complicated but we’ve talked a lot about Red Bull contracts before.
READ MORE: Why Eddie Jordan thinks Max Verstappen must take some ‘blame’ for Sergio Perez’s downfall at Red Bull
“You’re technically contracted to Red Bull the company rather than Red Bull Racing and that is what Red Bull ultimately will point to. It’s the same thing that allowed them to move on from Daniel Ricciardo. It’s the same thing that allowed them to move on from Nyck De Vries.
“You are an employee of Red Bull and there’s no obligation to put you into either race seat and I believe as well after Abu Dhabi with this new contract when it kicks in that is something that can be enforced in a new way because obviously Perez signed an extension earlier this year.”
Daniel Ricciardo’s exit in Singapore wasn’t handled well with his departure a terribly kept secret that couldn’t be acknowledged.
Perez won’t want to leave Formula 1 in the same way if his destiny is already sealed, but that’s a call that ultimately is up to him.
Max Verstappen comments on Sergio Perez ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The biggest talking point of Thursday’s media session in Abu Dhabi was the ongoing fight between Verstappen and George Russell.
The pair are stil upset with fallout of the qualifying session in Qatar that saw Verstappen handed a one-place penalty for impeding Russell.
Verstappen shared how he will drive to avoid further qualifying penalties before being asked about Perez.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname
In the official press conference, the 27-year-old said: “He’s always been a great team player.
“I always enjoyed working with him every weekend, even when the car wasn’t performing.”
Keeping Verstappen happy if one of the key objectives for Red Bull’s management team.
However, a compromise needs to be found between maintaining a positive relationship with their star man and remaining competitive in both championships.
