The heat is really on in the drivers market ahead of the 2025 season. Several drivers’ current contracts are coming to a close and with Sergio Perez also being on the same train, Red Bull adviser, Helmut Marko has admitted that the Mexican initially had his eyes set on a three-year extension.
Sergio Perez has been making his trade with the Milton-Keynes-based team since 2021. Despite his up-and-down campaigns since then, he has managed to keep hold of his seat alongside the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen.
Moreover, Perez has started the ongoing 2024 season on a strong note and is thus, looking to secure his F1 future as soon as possible.
Initially Perez wanted a 3-year contract. Helmut Marko said in an interview with Autosport
Since Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull at the end of 2018, quite a few drivers have come and gone and no one has been able to keep hold of the second seat for as long as Perez has managed. Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly had very short stints at the Austrian outfit as they just were not able to keep up with Verstappen.
Red Bull not in a ‘position to finalize everything’ regarding the 2025 seat
While Sergio Perez wants to get his situation sorted with the Milton-Keynes-based team as soon as possible, Helmut Marko and co. believe that are not in a position to do that just yet. Red Bull has quite a few options at its disposal for 2025.
One of the most attractive options is the current Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz. Moreover, there are quite a few other names that interest Red Bull.
We are not yet in a position to finalise everything. But it has nothing to do with regulations. He knows he has to perform. Helmut Marko said in an interview with GPBlog
While Perez’s future at Red Bull is up in the air at the moment, one thing has not changed, and that is the Austrian outfit expects the 34-year-old to keep performing on a consistent basis. As things stand, Perez has so far managed 85 points in comparison to Verstappen’s 110. Keeping this in view, the next 4-5 races could decide whether Perez gets a contract extension with Red Bull or not.
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