Sergio Perez had a miserable 2024 Formula 1 campaign and now he finds himself without a seat for next season after Red Bull let him go.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit had little reason to keep Perez after he cost them a chance of competing for the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.
Liam Lawson has been picked for a Red Bull promotion, but the team are yet to confirm any deal and is expected to do so in the coming days.
Teammate Max Verstappen sent Perez a lovely goodbye message after it was confirmed that he wouldn’t be remaining with the team for another season.
It means that the Dutchman will have a new opponent at Red Bull after four years alongside the 35-year-old whose Formula 1 career may be over.
Sergio Perez predicted Red Bull F1 sacking with ‘it’s going to be me’ comment
After going 19 races without achieving a podium in a championship-winning car, it’s going to be difficult for Perez to find his way back onto the grid.
He’s not done his reputation any favours over the last two or so years, but he did have one of the toughest jobs in the sport as the reigning champion’s teammate.
That’s going to be Liam Lawson’s problem now, but it’s hard to see where Perez should move in 2025 with such little time to find an opening.
READ MORE: Red Bull have already told Sergio Perez’s replacement he’ll be racing alongside Max Verstappen in 2025
Speaking on Netflix’s Drive to Survive back in 2018 (Season One, Episode Six), he mentioned how the day he would lose his drive would come eventually.
“It’s just the lack of opportunities that this sport offers, you know? We only have 20 seats,” he said. “It just happens you know. One day it’s going to be me.
“I think very few drivers in the world get to experience that amount of support from their countries. It is another pressure. You try to be perfect and you really work hard and you really try to focus on your thing.”
Will Liam Lawson be a better Red Bull driver than Sergio Perez?
It’s hard to predict who would have been better for Red Bull, considering that both drivers are at opposite ends of their careers.
Looking at the numbers though, it’s hard to see how a talented driver could do much worse than scoring less than half the points of his teammate.
After replacing Daniel Ricciardo this year, Lawson went on to lose the qualifying battle 6-0 to teammate Yuki Tsunoda down at Visa Cash App RB.
READ MORE: Esteban Ocon sends heartfelt message to Sergio Perez after his Red Bull exit is confirmed
The Japanese driver has 76 more races under his belt and has matured a lot over the past few years. But, his Kiwi rival is the one who was preferred for a promotion.
It’s a major dent to Tsunoda’s career and means that much like Pierre Gasly, he will probably have to leave the team to end up achieving much.
For Lawson, it adds pressure but his race performances were good and he’s a young talent with plenty of room to develop. He’s a much better option than sticking with Perez would have been, who may never be seen on the grid again.
