Sergio Perez has initiated the 2024 season on a positive note, igniting speculations about his potential retention beyond the ongoing season.
Dr. Helmut Marko has expressed reservations about extending Sergio Perez’s contract at Red Bull for multiple years. After a challenging 2023 season, doubts surfaced regarding Perez’s future with the Milton Keynes-based team beyond the expiry of his current contract.
Nonetheless, Perez has kickstarted the new season impressively, clinching three second-place finishes in the first four races. This strong performance has fueled discussions suggesting that Perez might be the most suitable candidate to partner with Max Verstappen beyond this season.
In response to speculations about Sebastian Vettel’s return to Red Bull, Marko categorically dismissed such possibilities, stating, “What, Vettel at Red Bull? No, that is not an option,” in an interview with Austrian publication OE24.
Regarding the potential return of Alex Albon to the team, Marko remained cryptic, citing that Albon “has a contract until the end of 2025.” There have been rumors circulating about Red Bull’s interest in the Williams driver, amid purported intrigue from Red Bull’s Thai owners and team principal Christian Horner.
Perez is currently in his fourth season with Red Bull, having replaced Albon ahead of the 2021 season. However, Marko hinted that extending Perez’s contract beyond the current campaign for more than one year could pose a risk for the team. “Everything is an option,” Marko asserted.
“Our team is currently working very well. If he [Perez] has a secure contract for two years, there is a risk that he will slack off.”
