All good things come to an end. For Sergio Pérez, beyond some inconveniences along the way, his stay in the team Red Bull It was something good, very good.
After arriving in Formula 1 more than a decade ago, the Aztec found in the Austrian team in 2021 the springboard he needed to propel his career to levels that few imagined. But then, why did the journey come to an end so soon?
Perez had been under pressure since signing a contract extension last June. With the deal, which was scheduled to conclude at the end of 2026, Red Bull hoped the Mexican would be able to rediscover his best form, but team boss Christian Horner admitted this month that the move “didn’t work out.”
The talented driver managed to score just nine points in the last eight races of the campaign and his last podium came in the fifth Grand Prix of the year in China.
The lack of results not only led to Red Bull falling short in its attempt to defend the constructors’ title, but also falling to third position in the final standings, behind champion McLaren and Ferrari.
That cost the team a good portion of its prize money and reduced the amount of bonuses team members will receive this winter.
Either way, it’s hard to blame Perez for what happened. Being a teammate of four-time champion Max Verstappen is a complex task. And racing for a team as prestigious as Red Bull comes with a great level of pressure included.
The pilot confessed that, as the pressure increased and the errors increased, his effort to deliver the expected results became greater and greater, which only led him to make more mistakes.
2024, a fatal year for the “Czech”
Pérez finished in eighth position in the drivers’ standings, his worst finish in four years with Red Bull. He was 285 points behind his teammate and tournament champion, the Dutchman Verstappen.
Red Bull wanted to find a way to make things work. They showed respect for Pérez and what he has done for the team, including his contribution to the title obtained by “Mad Max” in 2021, with a film closing against his main opponent, the British Lewis Hamilton, in Abu Dhabi.
However, the version of Pérez that was shown this year was not enough, even though the team did everything possible to help him feel comfortable.
Team members found some problems with the car and even apologized to him for not having found them sooner. But if he did feel better later, the results on the track did not reflect it.
The energy drink team is not known for its patience. A clear example of this was Daniel Ricciardo, who was released in the middle of the last fight; but Red Bull seems to have made several exceptions with Pérez.
However, it was pretty clear that patience was about to run out within the team by the end of the year.
There is a belief that Red Bull attempted to get Perez to leave the team on his own terms, rather than pushing him out. But the Mexican remained convinced that he had what it took to offer the expected results and was firm in his desire to complete a contract that was not yet so close to finalizing.
When Red Bull bosses met on Monday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to discuss the future, Perez’s stay was at the top of the list. In the end, they decided they had seen enough and it was time to move on from the 34-year-old Mexican.
The team spent the next 10 days trying to reach an agreement to close its working relationship with the Aztec.
Pérez will leave Formula 1 after 12 seasons, with a reputation as a good driver, consistent in the middle of the table and responsible for having played a fundamental role in saving the team that is known today as Aston Martin.
Meanwhile, the uncertainty of whether it will be able to return in 2026 is still there, thanks to the arrival of Cadillac/GM to become the eleventh F1 team, which will open a couple more seats on the grid.
