Tom Coronel left bemused by Sergio Perez’s ‘excuses’ in 2024 after Red Bull F1 exit

Sergio Perez finds himself out of Formula 1 for the 2025 season after confirming his departure from Red Bull.

The Mexican suffered a miserable season in 2024 as he could only manage eighth in the Drivers’ Championship with four podiums. Perez did not finish inside the top five after the Miami Grand Prix as he scored 285 fewer points than his teammate Max Verstappen who won his fourth world championship.

In his four years with Red Bull, Perez struggled much like Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly to get close to Verstappen as he could not get to grips with the machinery. The 2024 season was the final straw for Christian Horner and Helmut Marko as his poor form proved costly in the Constructors’ Championship.

Marko says Perez ‘no longer fits’ at Red Bull as the 35-year-old confirmed his exit from the Milton Keynes-based outfit not long after the season finale in Abu Dhabi. The team have opted to replace Perez with Liam Lawson after impressing with Racing Bulls.

Lawson has snubbed teammate Yuki Tsunoda of the seat despite having more experience in F1 than the Kiwi driver. As he looks set to compete in a fifth season with Racing Bulls alongside Isack Hadjar, Tsunoda has admitted he may have to look elsewhere to progress his career.

Tom Coronel cannot understand Sergio Perez’s poor form as he looked for ‘excuses’ rather than solutions at Red Bull

Red Bull gave Perez a new two-year contract earlier in the year in the hopes that stability within the team would give him the confidence he needed. If any, the situation got worse as he only scored 49 points in the last 18 Grand Prix of the season.

His woeful form left many fans and pundits bemused considering the car he was driving and what Verstappen was able to do in it on the other side of the garage.

Dutch pundit Tom Coronel cannot understand why Perez struggled so much compared to the Dutchman and as he kept looking for ‘excuses’ instead of solutions.

“By far the biggest flop of the season, without a doubt. I just don’t understand a few things”, he said via Formule1.NL.

READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

The difference with Max only increased last season, which means he didn’t grow. And I saw him constantly looking for excuses instead of the solution. Furthermore, I can’t place Perez’s expiration date at Red Bull. It’s not like Red Bull that they let him stay for so long.

“I can imagine that Red Bull focuses on one driver with a driver of the calibre of Max Verstappen, but nevertheless: where was Pérez this year? With the experience he has, he should never have been so far behind.

“I also missed the bite, the eagerness in him. As if he thought it was all okay. Another striking aspect is that, just like last year, he started the season well, but gradually dropped deeply. As if the energy was gone, the battery empty.”

Is there a chance Sergio Perez could make a return to F1?

Many have wondered whether Perez could stay with Red Bull in some capacity in 2025, but James Hinchcliffe cannot imagine Perez stepping into a reserve driver role as he could rather see him in an ambassador role – which is what Daniel Ricciardo was offered after his dismissal earlier this year.

It has been commonly seen at Red Bull that drivers are demoted back down to their junior team Racing Bulls. However, Horner says a move to Racing Bulls was not an option for Perez as they prioritised youth in Hadjar.

Following his exit from Red Bull, many have wondered if Perez will ever make his return to F1. His father Antonio Perez has stressed the ‘movie is not closed’ as he hints the Mexican could make a comeback if the right opportunity arises.

Journalist Matt Coch suspects Perez will join Cadillac when they join the grid in 2026, which would make sense given his experience and commercial value which his substantial following in North America.