Driver change in Formula 1
New colleague for Verstappen: Pérez out of Red Bull
December 18, 2024 – 6:59 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
World champion Max Verstappen gets a new team partner. For the Mexican Sergio Pérez, Red Bull is over. His future in Formula 1 is questionable.
Sergio Pérez will no longer drive for Red Bull Racing from next season. The 34-year-old Mexican confirmed his departure via X (formerly Twitter): “After four incredible years, Red Bull and I have agreed to go our separate ways in the future.” Shortly afterwards, Red Bull also shared the news and photo.
The separation comes as no surprise. Pérez had emphasized for months that he wanted to fulfill his contract by 2025, but rumors about his end at Red Bull were increasing. “It has been an honor to have been Max’s teammate over the years and to have contributed to the team’s success,” Pérez wrote in his statement.
Liam Lawson, a 22-year-old New Zealander, is expected to become series world champion Max Verstappen’s new teammate. Lawson, who replaced Australian Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull’s second team Racing Bulls last season, is now set to take the next step in his career. Like Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel before him, he is promoted directly from the Red Bull youth program.
Lawson’s place at the Racing Bulls could be taken by 20-year-old Frenchman Isack Hadjar. The runner-up in the 2023 Formula 2 season would be about to make its Formula 1 debut.
After a strong start to the season, Pérez fell off significantly in the second half of the year. In the drivers’ championship he only finished eighth with 152 points, while his teammate Max Verstappen became world champion again with 437 points.
Pérez’s drop in performance also cost Red Bull its title defense in the constructors’ championship. The team had to settle for third place behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Sergio Pérez began his Formula 1 career at Sauber in 2011, moved to McLaren after two years and then drove for Force India from 2014, which later became Racing Point. At the end of 2020 he moved to Red Bull and enjoyed success there for four years.
However, with 282 Grand Prix, Pérez will probably no longer reach the mark of 300 races in Formula 1. After his retirement in the second round of this year’s season finale, his career in the premier motorsport class is likely to end abruptly.