F1 News: Sergio Perez suggests Red Bull fate will be decided by CRUCIAL five-minute conversation

F1 News & Gossip

Perez suggests CRUCIAL five-minute conversation will decide Red Bull fate

The Mexican's contract runs out at the end of 2024

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Monday 18 March 2024 18:58 Updated: 19:46

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Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has claimed 'it's not easy' racing while not knowing where his future lies beyond the end of this season.

The Mexican driver's current contract with the world champions expires at the end of 2024, and it remains to be seen whether or not Red Bull will opt to give Max Verstappen a different team-mate in 2025.

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Perez has been largely outperformed by Verstappen in all three seasons they have spent together at Red Bull, with the Dutchman claiming three consecutive world championship titles, leaving the Mexican's future in some doubt in the latter part of last season.

2024 has started off more positively for Perez, who has lost out to Verstappen in both of the first two races, but has achieved the minimum requirement of finishing second in his dominant RB20 car.

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen are team-mates

Max Verstappen's future has also been in doubt

Verstappen to be given new team-mate?

Several drivers have been linked with Perez's seat, including youngster Liam Lawson, former Red Bull driver Alex Albon and Australian Daniel Ricciardo, whose own start to the season has left a lot to be desired.

In this sense, Perez's chances of getting a contract extension with the Milton Keynes-based outfit may be higher now compared to just six months ago.

"It's not easy,” Perez admitted to Sky Sports F1 about his situation.

"We already saw it in Bahrain. The only driver to put the perfect lap together was Max. He is a driver who operates at a high level without mistakes. Just being able to redeem yourself time after time.

Max Verstappen has won both races in 2024

"You’re only as good as your last race. When I’ve been comfortable with the car and team, I’ve been extremely close to Max. That’s the best I can do. Time will tell if that’s enough. If not, I will be watching at who goes next!

"I think it’s early to say," Perez continued. "I want to wait a few races to see how it goes. It’s not an easy or straightforward seat.

"It has some complications which we’ve seen in the past. We’ve seen great drivers that don’t survive six months or a year. It’s a unique team, I’m in no hurry. I want to see how it goes. With Red Bull, I think it will be a very fast conversation, it will take us five minutes to say what we want to do.

"We cannot take anything away from him [Max Verstappen]. He’s at one with the car. I think Max is at the stage of his career where he has a car that he is 100% comfortable with."