Sergio Perez has stated that he has not been given specific targets to achieve to secure a renewal of his contract with Red Bull, but he views the first five races of the new season as a crucial period to assert his position within the team, particularly next to his teammate Max Verstappen.
The driver from Mexico faced a challenging 2023 season, with a hopeful beginning but only managed to secure a single podium finish in the last eight races. In contrast, his teammate Verstappen clinched seven wins in the same timeframe.
By the end of the final race in Abu Dhabi, Perez trailed Verstappen by 290 points in the final standings.
Even though he managed to fend off Lewis Hamilton to hold onto second place in the Drivers’ Championship, this achievement likely offered little solace to Perez at the age of 34.
When questioned about his emotions entering the busy 2024 driver market, Perez responded: “I think I’m at a great team. For now, I’m fully focused on the start of the year and ideally, I’ll be able to carry on for more years in this team.”
The Mexican also spoke about his requirements for securing a new contract with Red Bull, stating: “The start of the season is going to be really busy. So just focusing on the first few races, that’s my main objective.
“I don’t think I’m setting any timelines or anything like that. For now, I’m just focusing on the first five races to get the most out of it, because it’s going to be taking a lot of energy out of me, I just don’t want any distractions.”
Throughout 2023, there was widespread speculation that Perez might leave his team prematurely before the 2024 season, but as his mistakes became less frequent and Daniel Ricciardo did not present a compelling case for taking over the position, Perez was allowed to stay on.
However, Ricciardo is anticipated to play a significant role in the 2024 driver market, with the well-liked Australian positioned for a potential short-term comeback to the team where he achieved nearly all of his eight Grand Prix wins.
With Lando Norris having secured a long-term agreement with McLaren, Perez faces one less competitor for his seat, but the rising performance of Alex Albon may increase the pressure on him as he approaches a critical 2024 season.
