Sergio Perez news LIVE: F1 latest as Red Bull axe Mexican and line up replacement
Max Verstappen shares his thoughts after clinching the 2024 Formula 1 championship in Las Vegas.
Red Bull has decided to release Sergio Perez before the 2025 Formula 1 season, bringing his four-year tenure with the team to an end.
Perez found it difficult to match the speed of both his championship-winning teammate Max Verstappen and competitors from McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari, ultimately ending the season in eighth place in the drivers’ standings. As a result, Red Bull ended up in third place in the constructors' championship, losing their title to McLaren.
"I am extremely thankful for the last four years at Red Bull," Perez expressed. "We set records and achieved amazing milestones."
Although Perez's future is uncertain, as there isn’t a spot open on the team for next season, New Zealand's Liam Lawson is expected to step up from the sister team, RB, to race alongside Verstappen for Red Bull.
Stay updated with all the newest responses and F1 news in the live blog below.
Christian Horner Is Happy With Perez's Extension
Regarding the choice to extend Perez’s contract during the summer, Horner stated, “He had achieved four podium finishes in five races at that point, so it made sense to finalize the extension and eliminate any speculation, which was already excessive surrounding the team,” the team principal clarified.
"All contracts include terms and conditions for performance, but Sergio's choice to take a break did not affect this decision."
Regarding the constructors' championship, he remarked, "Looking back, McLaren performed really well. However, in the end, we secured more race victories, achieved more pole positions, and triumphed in four sprint races, which is more than any other team. Plus, we clinched the drivers' championship with two races remaining."
"Sadly, our team faced a shortfall of 280 points between our drivers, which obviously proved to be quite costly in the constructors' championship."
Luke Baker, December 19, 2024, at 3:00 AM
"Horner: 'Checo Is A Fantastic Team Member'"
Horner addressed Perez's future while speaking with Sky Sports, stating: "Checo has been an amazing part of our team. This year has been challenging for him, but he is a wonderful individual and was instrumental in the drivers' championship win in 2021."
Last week, we had a conversation about it. He has chosen to take a break from Formula 1 for a while. Although he will continue to be associated with the brand and the team, he will no longer be behind the wheel in the future.
"We're really going to miss him on our team. It's important for him now to focus on his family and think about his plans moving forward."
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Christian Horner Reveals Sergio Perez’s Next Move
Red Bull team principal Horner has now clarified what Perez plans to do before the 2025 season, as he currently doesn't have another role secured.
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Sergio Perez's Poor Performance Cost Red Bull 2024
The signs of Sergio Perez’s impending departure from Red Bull appeared earlier than most realize. On Wednesday, he acknowledged an expected outcome following a tough season. It wasn’t just the humiliating early exit in Q1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July, which came after a crash during practice the previous day. Nor was it the costly first-lap incident on the streets of Monaco back in the spring. In fact, the turning point can be traced back to May 2023, a time when things seemed much brighter for the now disheartened Mexican driver.
As we approached the Miami Grand Prix last year, there was a lot of buzz around Perez as a serious contender for the championship. In fact, with Red Bull's car superiority, he was seen as Max Verstappen's main rival for the title. The first four races had seen both drivers share victories, and on the street course where Perez typically excels, he secured pole position in Florida, while Verstappen lined up in ninth place.
Check out Kieran Jackson's complete analysis:
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Liam Lawson Set To Take Perez's Spot At Red Bull
Liam Lawson is poised to be elevated from Red Bull to join Max Verstappen as his teammate.
Since stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull in September, Lawson has made a significant impact. According to The Independent, Lawson is set to take Sergio Perez's place with the main Red Bull team in 2025, surpassing Yuki Tsunoda for the position.
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Sergio Perez Confirms Red Bull Departure After Tough Season
Sergio Perez will no longer be part of the Red Bull team for the 2025 Formula 1 season, as Liam Lawson is poised to step up from the RB team to join Max Verstappen as his new teammate.
The reigning champions, who renewed Perez's contract until the end of the 2025 season in early June, have decided to make a change due to a difficult series of results for the Mexican driver this year.
The 34-year-old driver, who has been competing in Formula 1 for 14 straight seasons, placed eighth in the drivers' rankings, trailing his teammate and champion Verstappen by an impressive 285 points.
Luke Baker, December 18, 2024, at 10:00 PM
Following the conclusion of the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi this past Sunday, we have just 94 days until the excitement resumes in 2025.
The upcoming year could turn out to be one of the best seasons in Formula 1 history. The biggest draw is Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari, but there are also at least four fresh faces joining the lineup – newcomers Ollie Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, and Gabriel Bortoleto.
However, following Max Verstappen's victory in the drivers' championship and McLaren's success in the constructors' title, it seems that both competitions are completely up for grabs for next season.
Chris Wilson, December 18, 2024, 9:00 PM
F1 2024 Season: Award For Rising Star
A dream start for the British teenager in Saudi Arabia, stepping in effortlessly for Carlos Sainz and earning points in his first Formula 1 race with Ferrari.
From that point forward, his place at Haas for 2025 was almost guaranteed. He seized the opportunity, and his 12th place finish in the F2 standings was of little consequence.
Podium finishers: Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto.
Chris Wilson, December 18, 2024, at 20:40
F1 2024: Race Of The Year Award Announced
A weekend in Sao Paulo filled with thrilling moments that determined the championship outcome.
Due to intense rainfall, the qualifying session took place on Sunday morning. The way the grid lined up suggested a significant advantage for Norris in terms of points. Additionally, there were five accidents during the chaotic qualifying minutes.
However, the race turned out to be a brilliant demonstration of driving in rainy conditions by Verstappen. While many struggled with skids and ended up crashing into barriers, the Dutch driver showcased absolute precision.
Podium Finishes: British Grand Prix; Austrian Grand Prix
Chris Wilson, December 18, 2024, at 8:20 PM
F1 2024: Moment Of The Year Award
Lando Norris clinches victory at the Miami Grand Prix.
It was a difficult decision to make. However, Norris had anticipated his first F1 win for such a long time that, when it finally happened, the excitement was undeniable.
This was also the initial sign of McLaren's impressive speed during races, hinting at an exciting 2024 season ahead.
Top finishers: Lewis Hamilton claims victory at the British Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen takes the win at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Chris Wilson, on December 18, 2024, at 8:00 PM.
