Sergio Perez finds himself entangled in negotiations with Red Bull Racing, yet he remains determined to stay put. Despite his contractual uncertainties, Perez asserts his unwavering commitment to Formula 1, even if it means departing from the Red Bull stable.
As the season progresses, Perez’s contract with Red Bull is approaching its conclusion, prompting discussions with key figures such as Dr. Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner regarding potential extensions.
Marko has hinted at Perez’s preference for a three-year deal, a proposition that Red Bull seems hesitant to entertain amidst a pool of contenders vying for the coveted spot alongside Max Verstappen.
Nevertheless, Perez’s stellar performance in the season’s early races has significantly bolstered his bargaining position. With an impressive four podium finishes out of five races, his prospects of securing a continued tenure with Red Bull have been considerably strengthened.
This is particularly notable considering the underwhelming starts experienced by Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull, coupled with Carlos Sainz’s apparent trajectory towards a move to Stake/Audi.
Having amassed a wealth of experience with 262 starts under his belt, Perez remains steadfast in his ambition to prolong his Formula 1 career. When pressed about his future intentions, Perez emphatically reaffirms his commitment, stating, “Absolutely, 100%, I am fully committed.
“At the end of the day, I’ve been in this sport for a long time, but I am only 34, and when you see drivers carrying on, we see longer careers these days, so I am still very fresh and very motivated. I have no doubt, 100% that I will be here next year.”
Perez stands among the trio of fathers currently navigating the Formula 1 grid, alongside Haas duo Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg. He candidly reflects on the challenges posed by balancing racing commitments with family responsibilities, pondering the sustainability of his current level of motivation.
“I don’t think that if you were to do this job, you cannot be at 95% for the sake of doing it, especially when you have a family back home,” Perez remarked, highlighting the intrinsic demand for unwavering dedication in a profession as demanding as Formula 1.
“It is important that when you commit to Formula 1, you are fully committed until your last day, and that is the approach I take: I am fully committed to F1 like when I started.
“It is important to do that for my family, but I just don’t know for how long I will be able to have this motivation. At some point, there are some priorities out of here, and it is something at some point I will have to consider how long I want to [continue].
“[With the team], it is all about the future, how we both see the future together. Obviously, if you as a team and driver have the same target in mind, it is very easy, especially after so many years.
“We’ve been together for four years, so I do expect everything will be quite easy going forward.”
