Sergio Perez’s current agreement with Red Bull is set to expire by the end of 2024, and the Mexican driver is seeking to secure a contract extension from the team based in Milton Keynes.
Sergio Perez and Helmut Marko photographed outside the Red Bull headquarters.
Red Bull and their team have been dominant in the world of Formula 1 over the past two seasons. However, Perez has struggled to step out of the shadow of his teammate, who is a world champion. The current contract of the Mexican driver is coming to an end this year. In light of this, Red Bull Motorsport Consultant, Helmut Marko, has emphasized how Perez could secure a new contract from the team based in Milton Keynes.
Sergio Perez had a challenging season in 2023. Despite winning two races early on, the 34-year-old driver fell considerably behind Max Verstappen’s record-breaking performances. As a result, rumors began circulating about Perez’s future with the team. Nevertheless, the Mexican driver was able to solidify his position with some decent performances towards the end of the season.
Helmut Marko stated that Perez needed to continue his impressive form from the latter part of the previous season. The 80-year-old believed that such results would guarantee an effortless contract extension for the 34-year-old driver with Red Bull. Previously, Marko had expressed that Perez’s seat for 2025 in Milton Keynes was his to lose. Perez’s seat is arguably one of the most desirable positions on the current grid, with the Mexican earning a base salary of $10 million.
Perez has been resolute in his ambition to challenge Max Verstappen for the F1 championship in 2024. The Mexican driver aims to bounce back after a disappointing season compared to the Dutch driver. However, it may prove difficult for the 34-year-old to outperform the three-time world champion once again this season. Consequently, this could open the door for someone like Daniel Ricciardo to potentially replace Perez.
Max Verstappen has expressed great admiration for the Red Bull RB-20. The Dutch driver was delighted with the car’s performance during pre-season, as it perfectly suited his driving style. This could potentially hinder Sergio Perez’s aspirations, as he has generally struggled to adapt to the Red Bull machinery in comparison to the three-time world champion.
Perez has mentioned that Red Bull took a bold approach with their 2024 car. The 34-year-old appeared to have performed well during pre-season testing in Bahrain. However, it remains to be seen whether Sergio Perez can salvage his F1 career at Milton Keynes with a satisfactory campaign in 2024.