Formula 1
Perez announces departure from Red Bull F1 team
The Mexican driver and his squad have agreed to part ways with immediate effect
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Dec 18, 2024, 5:40 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Sergio Perez has announced his exit from the Red Bull Formula 1 team after four seasons with the squad.
As widely expected, the Mexican will vacate the seat alongside world champion Max Verstappen after a tough 2024 campaign in which he struggled for performance and dropped to eighth in the drivers' championship.
Pérez's historically bad lack of form had long left his future in doubt, despite him originally having signed a contract back in June that ran through until the end of 2026.
But following negotiations since the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Perez and Red Bull have agreed to end the deal and go their separate ways.
Perez announced in an Instagram post on Wednesday: “T[h]ank you for these four years @redbullracing. I wish you the best."
Perez added in a Red Bull press release: "I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team.
"Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.
"A big thank you to every person in the team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future.
"It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success.
"A special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember…Never give up."
Team principal Christian Horner added: "I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons.
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
"From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first 1-2 finish in the drivers’ championship. His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit.
"While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history. Thank you, Checo."
While there had been consideration of Perez retaining ties to Red Bull through some form of ambassadorial role, it is understood that this was eventually ruled out.
Perez joined Red Bull in 2021 and placed fourth, third and second during his first three years with the team, helping it win two constructors' titles.
But as rivals caught up with the Milton Keynes-based squad in 2024, his enduring difficulties to gel with the RB20 proved costly as the team slumped to third in the constructors' championship.
Despite season-long speculation about his future, Perez was always adamant that he would see out his two-year contract for 2025 and 2026, but at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix he first hinted that talks over his future could yet spell an earlier departure.
Red Bull has not yet made any announcement about who will replace Perez, but his exit opens the door for it to promote one of its junior drivers from its sister Racing Bulls team.
Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
New Zealander Liam Lawson is favourite to get the nod over the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda for the high-pressure seat alongside Verstappen.
Lawson's promotion would free up a slot at RB for Red Bull junior and F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar.
With no other seats available for 2025, Perez is set for a spell on the sidelines after 14 consecutive seasons in the series since his 2011 debut with Sauber.
Perez took a maiden grand prix win with Racing Point at the one-off 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, and added another five wins and three poles to his resume with Red Bull. His most recent win came last year in Baku, one of his 39 podiums in F1.
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble
Read Also:
Formula 1Verstappen on F1 future: Mercedes talk constructive, but I like where I am
Formula 1Red Bull: New RB21 F1 car needs wider operating window
Formula 1Verstappen questions "harsh" Perez treatment: "He is not an idiot"
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Discovering and developing young talent is at the heart of Williams F1 comeback plan
Next article The 10 F1 2024 moments that cost Perez his Red Bull drive
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
Alex Albon dismisses Fernando Alonso criticism: 'F1 has no more pay drivers'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
8 h
Alex Albon dismisses Fernando Alonso criticism: 'F1 has no more pay drivers'
Sergio Perez signs fresh Cadillac F1 deal until 2029
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Sergio Perez signs fresh Cadillac F1 deal until 2029
More from
Sergio Perez
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
16 h
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
18 h
Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP
Yet another DNF for Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas: ‘Sometimes we don’t quite understand it’
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Yet another DNF for Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas: ‘Sometimes we don’t quite understand it’
More from
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen jokes about Daniel Ricciardo's Le Mans ambition: "He's a smart man picking me!"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
8 h
Max Verstappen jokes about Daniel Ricciardo's Le Mans ambition: "He's a smart man picking me!"
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
16 h
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Latest news
Jorge Martin declared fit to race in Malaysian GP after FP1
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
2 h
Jorge Martin declared fit to race in Malaysian GP after FP1
Cetilar unveils blue Ferrari 499P ahead of Hypercar debut
Asian Le Mans
AsLM Asian Le Mans 5 h
Cetilar unveils blue Ferrari 499P ahead of Hypercar debut
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
5 h
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
6 h
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe