Red Bull set to make offer to Sergio Perez that Daniel Ricciardo rejected if he walks away from F1

Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez is approaching the end of one of the most difficult campaigns of his career.

The Qatar Grand Prix was the latest weekend where Sergio Perez knew he had to impress the likes of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko at Red Bull after a very tricky season.

Perez went into the penultimate race weekend of the season sitting eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, more than 250 points behind teammate Max Verstappen.

While Verstappen now has nine Grand Prix victories to his name this year on his way to a fourth world championship, Perez has failed to finish on the podium since the Sprint Race in Miami.

A Q1 exit ahead of the Sprint Race before Perez’s inexplicably slow start that Horner couldn’t understand meant he finished in P20.

Perez managed to reach Q3 for the Grand Prix and after starting ninth, was running in P5 at one point during Sunday’s race.

However, his car appeared to give up on him under the safety car and instead of securing a much-needed points haul, he ended up retiring from the race.

Perez’s future is under serious scrutiny with a meeting set to take place after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to decide whether he’ll be on the grid in 2025.

Christian Horner has told Perez to come to his own conclusions when he decides whether he wants to continue racing in F1.

Journalist Thomas Maher has posted on social media about a different role the Mexican could be offered by Red Bull should he decide to walk away this winter.

Sergio Perez to be offered marketing role by Red Bull if he walks away from F1

Posting on X about Perez’s potential next steps in the sport, Maher said: “My understanding is that Perez is to be offered an ambassadorship/marketing type role, similar to what Daniel Ricciardo has been offered, leaving it in his hands whether he wants it or not.”

As Maher alludes to, Daniel Ricciardo was offered a Red Bull ambassador role when he was let go by RB.

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The Australian was replaced by Liam Lawson following the Singapore Grand Prix but Red Bull understood his potential to still play a role going forward away from the track.

Understandably, Ricciardo decided to take some time out after a stressful 2024 campaign, although it would be a surprise if that door was shut for good on Ricciardo returning to the paddock.

Red Bull won’t want to lose Sergio Perez’s sponsorship potential

Perez has been adamant that he’ll be racing for Red Bull in 2025, but the pressure internally and externally appears to be increasing every weekend.

Red Bull would have to pay off Perez to leave his race seat over the winter, while the Mexican is very important commercially for the team.

He brings a vast amount of sponsorship and has a huge fanbase in Latin America.

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Perez is the latest driver trapped alongside Verstappen in what appears to be an impossible position on the Formula 1 grid.

The likes of Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly have thrived after leaving Red Bull and Perez wouldn’t be a bad option for the new Cadillac team in 2026 given his experience and financial backing.