Red Bull has confirmed Sergio Perez will not return to drive for the team in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The widely-expected news was confirmed in statements issued by Perez and Red Bull on Wednesday. Perez’s said they had “reached an agreement to part ways.”
The team is yet to confirm who will replace Perez. Liam Lawson, who has started 11 races for RB over the past two seasons, has been tipped as a potential replacement.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team,” said Perez. “Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience, and I’ll always cherish the success 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 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.’
Perez said it had been “an honour” to spend the last four seasons as Max Verstappen’s team mate.
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He joined Red Bull from Raing Point (now Aston Martin) in 2021. He played a pivotal role in Verstappen’s championship victory that year, notably in the season finale at Yas Marina.
Having scored his first grand prix victory shortly before joining Red Bull, Perez has claimed five more wins since then, the last coming at Baku last year. He and Verstappen delivered constructors’ championship titles for the team in 2022 and 2023.
However Perez’s form dropped off significantly after that last win. Although he finished second in the drivers’ championship to Verstappen last season, he claimed less than half as many points as his team mate.
Perez appeared to rediscover his form over the opening rounds of this season. He followed Verstappen home to complete one-twos for the team in the first two events and reached the podium twice more by round five.
After the Monaco Grand Prix Red Bull handed Perez a new, two-year contract. But by that point his season was already showing signs of going off the rails. He was eliminated in the first round of qualifying in Monaco then suffered a huge crash with Kevin Magnussen shortly after the start of the race.
The difficulties Red Bull experienced with their car this…
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