Sergio Perez weighing up 2021 reserve role "with one of the biggest teams in Formula 1"

Sergio Perez

Perez weighing up 2021 reserve role "with one of the biggest teams in Formula 1"

Mexican is still hoping to land Red Bull drive for next season

Ian Parkes & Nicolas Quarles van Ufford

Wednesday 2 December 2020 07:28

Sergio Perez has revealed he is currently weighing up an offer to be a reserve driver in 2021 with "one of the biggest teams in Formula 1".

Perez is patiently waiting for Red Bull to deliver its verdict as to who will partner Max Verstappen next season, with the Mexican vying for the seat along with present incumbent Alex Albon.

The likelihood is Red Bull will ultimately hand Albon another opportunity, leaving Perez without a drive for next year after he departs Racing Point.

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While the 30-year-old has so far indicated it is his intention to take a sabbatical if Red Bull decides against him, there is now another alternative on the table, albeit one he is wary of.

Asked this week about being a reserve driver, Perez said: "That possibility exists, and I have to discuss it. There is an opportunity with one of the biggest teams in Formula 1 that I can fulfil that role.

"But I’m not very convinced to travel to every race as a reserve. In the end, there are 23 races, being far away from home, far away from my family all the time without driving.

"I think at the current height of my career, I wouldn’t take that opportunity. But we’re still in discussions. Let’s see if we can reach an agreement that I would do fewer races.

"All of that, I think once it’s clear what will happen with my F1 career, I will decide. But for myself too, I want to have that year [off] to see what I want from my life in the coming year."

The indication is the reserve role would be with either Mercedes or Ferrari, especially with the next season likely to start with Covid restrictions still in place, despite hopes of a vaccine on the horizon.

Lewis Hamilton's positive test this week has underlined the fact that Covid can be caught no matter the stringency of a regimen in place.

Hamilton is the third driver this season to contract coronavirus and miss races after Perez himself and Racing Point team-mate Lance Stoll.