Sergio Perez exits Red Bull
Posted on December 19, 2024
Liam Lawson – his replacement?
IT SHOULD COME as no great surprise to hear today that Red Bull has ended its contract with Mexican driver Sergio Perez, among the most likeable drivers on the F1 grid.
While Red Bull will announce a teammate for Max Verstappen “in due course”, odds are young New Zealand hotshot Liam Lawson could join the four-time world champion on the 2025 grid.
It would be an amazing rise in the ranks for the young Kiwi who turns 23 on February 11, a month before the 2025 season opening Australian F1 Grand Prix.
Liam has been around the F1 paddock for some time, but only replaced Perth’s Daniel Ricciardo mid-season for RB, Red Bull’s second team.
Fellow RB driver Yuki Tsunoda is also an outside chance, given his drive in the 2024 Red Bull during the recent end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi.
Disastrous 2024 season follows classy beginning
After joining the team at the start of the 2021 season, Sergio Perez enjoyed some brilliant moments with the team, winning five races.
He helped Red Bull to back-to-back constructors’ championships in 2022 and 2023, finishing a career-best second in the drivers’ championship in ’23.
But his on-track performance in 2024 was anything but stellar and saw the once mighty Red Bull miss out on the lucrative constructors’ title.
With the once mighty Red Bull dropping to third – behind champions McLaren and an unfortunate Ferrari – the end was nigh.
While Max claimed the 2024 drivers’ championship, the luckless Sergio Perez struggled in the midfield for most of the season and eventually placed eighth.
Coincidentally, it was the lowest championship finish for a teammate of the world champions since Max’s father Jos was eighth in 1994 – as Michael Schumacher’s partner at Benetton.
Mexican puts on brave face
“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team,” Sergio said, in a statement earlier today.
“Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.”
Praise from Team Principal
No surprise that Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was full of praise for his departing No. 2. He lauded the Mexican for his assistance in helping the team return to the top of F1.
“I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons. From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first 1-2 finish in the drivers’ championship. His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit.”
FOR the RECORD
Based at England’s Milton Keynes, England, Red Bull competes under an Austrian racing license. The team was founded by the energy drink company Red Bull GmbH and has been managed by Christian Horner since its formation in 2005. And, when you give that some thought, it’s an incredible length of time for one man to be at the helm of an F1 team.
Five other F1 teams are headquartered in the broad vicinity: of Milton Keynes:
Mercedes-AMG Petronas in Brackley; McLaren in Woking; Alpine (formerly Renault) in Enstone; Aston Martin in Silverstone; and Williams Racing in Grove.
May I take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks for your interest and your welcome comments during 2024, one of the more interesting Formula One seasons in recent times.
And, if you are able to support my work, an ACM 12-month subscription – delivered regularly to your inbox – is $Aud30.
Enjoy your Christmas and stay safe!
NEXT EVENT:
2025 Australian F1 Grand Prix
Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne
March 14-16
EDITED by AC
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