Sergio Perez is attracting interest from one team as Red Bull decide whether to retain his services for 2025, according to Auto Motor und Sport. Perez is approaching the end of his contract with the Bulls and knows he’s fighting for his future.
The Mexican came into 2024 under significant pressure after his 2023 campaign somewhat unravelled. He won two of the first four Grands Prix, suggesting he could compete for the title, but teammate Max Verstappen triumphed in 17 of the next 18.
Perez had to fend off Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton just to keep second in the championship, and ultimately finished a record 290 points behind Verstappen. As he tries to prove his worth to Red Bull, AMuS say he’s on the radar of another team too.
The 34-year-old has got off to a solid start this year, completing a one-two for his team at three of the first four races. He would have been disappointed to finish fifth at the Australian Grand Prix after Verstappen retired, but a visor tear-off hampered his aerodynamic performance.
Last time out in Japan, he scored his first front-row start of the campaign and came within seven hundredths of a second of denying Verstappen pole position. Karun Chandhok felt it was the best Saturday performance he’s produced in a ‘very long time’.
Sergio Perez on shortlist for F1 competitor
According to AMuS, Perez is a ‘candidate’ for Audi if he leaves Red Bull. The German manufacturer are buying 100% of the Sauber team ahead of their works F1 entry in 2026.
The six-time Grand Prix winner started his career with the Swiss team, spending two years there before joining McLaren. He would effectively be dropping from the front of the F1 grid to the back, given that Sauber have yet to score a point this year.
Audi also have a number of other candidates in mind. The shortlist may also include Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, both of whom would ‘flee immediately’ if given the chance amid the team’s woes.
Elsewhere, Yuki Tsunoda is bound to have caught their attention with his performances at RB. The Japanese driver is out of contract at the end of the year.
Who could replace Sergio Perez?
While Perez’s future will likely be determined by his own performances, Red Bull will also be keeping a close eye on how his potential replacements fare. One of those dropped out of the running on Thursday as Fernando Alonso signed a new contract at Aston Martin.
Another has seemingly fallen by the wayside too, with RB’s Daniel Ricciardo struggling. Ricciardo had looked a ‘dead-cert’ to return to Red Bull if he delivered this year.
The standout driver on the market, after Alonso’s decision, is clearly Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard is without a drive for next year after Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton, and has underlined his credentials with a 100% podium record and a race win at the first four rounds.
Red Bull director Helmut Marko has publicly said the team will have to consider former Toro Rosso driver Sainz. McLaren star Oscar Piastri is also of interest, but he’s under contract.
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