Red Bull decided to move on from the Mexican driver after Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, sources told ESPN’s Nate Saunders.
While discussions about next steps are expected to occur after the season Formula 1, RB’s Liam Lawson appears to be the favorite to take over as Max Verstappen’s driving partner in the main team.
If Lawson takes the seat with Red Bull, Isack Hadjar is expected to move up from Formula 2 to become Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate for RB.
Red Bull also considered Williams’ Franco Colapinto for the seat alongside Verstappen, but the Argentine’s performance in his last three races has pushed the team to leave him as a candidate, according to Saunders’ sources.
Perez signed a two-year extension with Red Bull in June and could be moved into an ambassador role within the company.
It was a tumultuous season for Pérez, who enters the final race of the calendar sitting in eighth place in the drivers’ standings, 277 points behind Verstappen.
The 34-year-old has been the main reason why Red Bull is behind McLaren and Ferrari for the constructors’ title.
