In a surprising turn of events, Perez delivered as expected and secured the second spot on the starting grid for the Japanese race last Sunday, narrowly missing out on pole position by a mere 0.066s to Max Verstappen. During the race, the Mexican driver showcased a solid performance, finishing in second place. This achievement contributed to Red Bull’s third one-two finish of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race at Suzuka, Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, revealed that he had made a bet with Perez to secure a front row position. Despite winning the bet, Perez claimed that he owed the same amount of money to Bernie Ecclestone, passing on the bet to the former Formula 1 boss. Horner humorously commented on Ecclestone’s ability to make money without even being present at the race.
Perez’s contract with Red Bull Racing is set to expire at the end of the 2024 F1 season. With the current “Silly Season” in full swing, as drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and Fernando Alonso are seeking new opportunities, Perez’s future with the team remains uncertain. However, his consistent performance throughout 2024 should convince Red Bull to retain his services for the 2025 season. Perez himself remains calm about his future, acknowledging that he has had a successful career in Formula 1 thus far and believes that the right opportunity will come his way. He expects the driver market to experience significant movement in the coming weeks, and he anticipates having a clearer picture of his plans for next year within a month. Despite the speculation, Red Bull Consultant Helmut Marko has stated that the team is not in a rush to make a decision regarding their 2025 driver lineup.
Horner, echoing Marko’s sentiments, acknowledges the early activity in the driver market this year. He emphasizes that Red Bull is not in a hurry to make a decision and acknowledges the high level of interest in their cars. While he previously mentioned the possibility of looking beyond their current pool of drivers, Horner affirms that Perez remains the top choice. He reiterates that Perez has the priority and that it will take a few more races before they seriously consider their options for next year. Horner praises Perez’s exceptional performance, noting that he qualified within a tenth of a second from Max Verstappen, marking his best qualifying performance at Suzuka. He commends Perez’s growing confidence and strong performance in the race, stating that he is doing exactly what is expected of him.