Sergio Perez has gained a prominent presence in the F1 driver market since Red Bull tore up his contract, which left the Mexican off the grid for the first time since 2011.
The 35-year-old endured a woeful run of results after agreeing to a new deal last year, which persuaded Red Bull to release Perez. He agreed to sign new terms for the 2025 F1 season in June, but then went on to just score 45 points and did not finish a Grand Prix higher than P6.
Perez’s plight, which included crashing in Canada and Azerbaijan plus finishing 17th in Great Britain and Mexico, cost Red Bull their defence of the F1 constructors’ championship. Yet he remains an option at a few teams for 2026, such as Cadillac, as a six-time Grand Prix winner.
Alpine, Cadillac and Mercedes have held talks with Perez and his camp to discuss a return to F1. The possibility of replacing George Russell in Brackley next year has also seen Perez hold off on signing for Cadillac to potentially join Mercedes, having already agreed on a contract.
Sergio Perez decides against retiring from F1 as he’s already ‘bored’ since leaving Red Bull
Alpine are open to signing Perez, as well, after one of his major backers, Carlos Slim Domit, met executive adviser Flavio Briatore at the Miami Grand Prix. Also, Perez’s manager was in Monaco to meet Alpine as a chance to return to F1 could even develop in the 2025 season.
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Harry Benjamin even spoke with Perez’s manager at the recent Monaco Grand Prix. And the journalist-slash-commentator now reports that the Guadalajara native’s representative told him the three-time polesitter has elected against retiring from F1 as Perez is already ‘bored’.
Benjamin told the BBC’s Chequered Flag Podcast: “I spoke to his manager in Monaco and he said, ‘Yeah, Sergio is bored now. He’s ready to come back. He thought maybe he might retire completely, but he’s bored’. So, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Sergio Perez.”
Sergio Perez could replace Franco Colapinto at Silverstone after holding talks with Alpine
Perez’s manager took advantage of his presence at the Monaco GP to meet Alpine, with the Enstone squad potentially able to deliver the Mexican his return to the F1 grid as early as the 2025 British Grand Prix on July 4-6. F1 goes to Silverstone after races in Canada and Austria.
Alpine only recently demoted Jack Doohan back into a reserve driver role and placed Franco Colapinto in their car ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. But the Argentine is fighting for his future as Alpine only gave Colapinto a five-round contract to replace Doohan.
Briatore will review Alpine’s driver line-up for the rest of the season after the Austrian Grand Prix, with a change then possible before the British GP. Colapinto is also currently struggling to show why Alpine should retain him, having come P16, P13 and P15 in his first three races.
