Perez reveals when it became clear he was set to leave Red Bull F1

Sergio Perez has revealed the second it turned clear his Red Bull Racing exit was inevitable.

After becoming a member of the group in 2021, following earlier stints with Sauber, McLaren, Pressure India and Racing Level, Perez struggled to extract the identical stage of efficiency from the Pink Bull automobiles as his world champion team-mate Max Verstappen in 2023 and 2024.

Regardless of a disappointing stage of efficiency in 2023, he retained his contract into 2024. Nevertheless, because the group watched the constructors’ championship run away from it final 12 months as McLaren and Ferrari overtook the squad, doubts have been forged over the Mexican’s future with the group.

Talking with Formula1.com, Perez revealed that it solely turned clear to him that his seat was in peril on the finish of November.

“The whole lot occurred actually late within the season,” he mentioned. “I wasn’t actually anticipating it to occur. It solely turned clearer as soon as we have been in Qatar, and we began to debate and negotiate my exit of the group. All of it occurred in a short time.”

Talking about his exit on the time, group principal Christian Horner mentioned: “Checo, he’s been a implausible member of this group. It’s been a troublesome 12 months for him however he’s a terrific individual and naturally [he] performed such a key position within the ’21 drivers’ championship, ’22 and ’23 constructors’.

“He was second within the drivers’ world championship final 12 months, he’s gained 5 grands prix in our automobiles. However he mirrored after the season and we sat down and mentioned it final week about what are the following steps, and he’s determined that he’s going to take a little bit of day trip.

“We’re unhappy to see him depart the group, however clearly it’s time for him to spend along with his younger household as nicely and replicate on what he desires to do for the long run.”

Pink Bull determined to exchange Perez earlier than his contract got here to its pure finish, which had been prolonged by 2025.

The Milton Keynes outfit evaluated RB, now Racing Bulls, pair Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda over the previous few races of the season and finally opted for the previous to take the coveted spot alongside Verstappen. 

Now, although, the group has changed Lawson after simply two disappointing grands prix and changed him with Tsunoda forward of his dwelling race in Japan.