It’s not just Helmut Marko who can no longer hear the rumors about Sergio Perez’s future. Now that the Austrian has had to confirm, according to his own statement, “I don’t know how many times” that Perez will also be in the Red Bull in 2024, the Mexican himself is slowly getting tired of such questions.
When asked before the Brazilian Grand Prix, he made it clear that he was “100 percent sure” that he would also drive for Red Bull in 2024. However, he is not surprised that the rumors just won’t stop despite Marko’s clear statements.
Just this week there was renewed speculation that Fernando Alonso could replace him in 2024. “I’ve been here for 13 years. And I know that everyone here has a different agenda. Even the journalists. So I’m used to it,” Perez shrugs.
Marko repeatedly emphasizes that his current Red Bull contract runs until the end of 2024. What happens after that is still open. Perez emphasizes: “I’m not thinking about that at the moment, to be honest. I think when you’re going through a difficult phase, you want to concentrate on the sporting side.”
“And there are so many rumors about my future that I just don’t have the energy for it. I just want to concentrate on Sunday,” he clarifies, emphasizing that for everything else he has a manager who takes care of such things .
“Sad day” at the home game in Mexico
But things haven’t been going well for Perez in terms of sport recently either. At his home race in Mexico last Sunday, his dream of victory was dashed in the first corner, where he collided with Charles Leclerc. That was “very painful,” he explains, even after a few days.
“It was just a very sad day. It hurt a lot, especially when you think about what could have happened if there had been no contact,” said Perez, who explained: “I was fighting for the lead and I was a risk received. And that didn’t pay off.”
Nevertheless, the team gave him “great” support afterwards, which was “very important,” he emphasizes. Marko and team boss Christian Horner did not blame him after the crash. “We are all racing drivers and we all have passion,” emphasizes Perez.
“I think you can’t do this job without passion,” he says, explaining that the situation was simply “tight.” Another problem with current cars is that other cars get into the blind spot “very quickly,” he emphasizes.
Ultimately, “many factors” played a role in the crash. It helps him personally that there is another race coming up this weekend. “I think it’s a great opportunity for me to show how strong I am mentally,” said Perez.
“There are always moments like that, but the most important thing is how you overcome them and how you recover from them,” emphasizes the Mexican, who says he has “definitely” put the disappointment at his home game behind him and is now fully concentrating on Brazil .
Formula 1: Perez wants runner-up in the World Championship
However, he probably doesn’t have the best memories of last year’s race. He only finished seventh, and at the very end there was an argument with his teammate Max Verstappen because he didn’t want to give him sixth place.
Back then, just like this year, Perez was fighting for runner-up in the world championship. So what happens if the same scenario happens again on Sunday and Perez is right behind his teammate shortly before the end?
“We haven’t thought about it. But if the situation arises, I’m sure I would have support from Max,” said Perez. Verstappen himself also reveals: “We haven’t talked about it.”
“First of all we have to make sure we win here. The last few years have been [wir in Brasilien] “Not so good,” he emphasizes and reminds: “And even if I did [2022] If we had let past, it wouldn’t have mattered at all for the championship.”
Ultimately, he is also “confident” that Perez can defend second place in the World Championship this year without his help, “because I think that we have the fastest car on average.” Last year there was simply not enough discussion about the situation before the race.
“But let’s just hope we do [dieses Jahr] don’t get into this situation. I think that would be better for everyone,” said Verstappen.