Breaking: Perez lands NEW drive as Red Bull reveal contract regret..

Perez lands NEW drive as Red Bull reveal contract regret

Sergio Perez has secured a new role with Red Bull, despite lingering uncertainty surrounding his Formula 1 future. The Mexican driver’s position at the team has been a topic of debate following a series of lackluster performances throughout the 2024 season. While Perez has expressed optimism about continuing with Red Bull into next year, the team has been more hesitant, casting doubts on his long-term prospects.

Red Bull’s management is expected to meet during the winter break to determine whether Perez will remain with the team for 2025 and beyond. Perez is still under contract, but after his disappointing showing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he failed to finish, there has been growing speculation that the team may explore other options for the upcoming season. The Abu Dhabi race served as a critical point in Perez’s season, as his DNF (Did Not Finish) capped off a string of underwhelming results, adding pressure to an already scrutinized position.

Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, has since expressed regret over the early extension of Perez’s contract, a decision made earlier in the season when the driver was performing well. “At the time, Sergio was delivering solid results, securing four podium finishes in the first five races,” Horner explained during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. “We felt extending his contract early would help him maintain his confidence and momentum, but unfortunately, things didn’t pan out the way we had hoped.”

Horner’s comments reflect Red Bull’s growing dissatisfaction with Perez’s performances, which have not met expectations since the mid-season point. Red Bull had hoped that locking Perez into a contract early in the year would provide stability and help him challenge for more podiums alongside Max Verstappen. However, Perez’s form declined as the season progressed, leading to doubts within the team about his ability to consistently deliver strong results.

Although Red Bull has yet to make an official announcement regarding Perez’s future with the team, the driver recently revealed a new driving role with the organization. In a video shared on his Instagram, Perez showcased his experience testing the Ford Raptor T1+, an off-road vehicle designed for the Dakar Rally. The Raptor T1+ is powered by a V8 engine and is a collaboration between Red Bull and Ford, indicating that Perez’s relationship with the team could extend beyond his Formula 1 career.

This new venture hints that even if Perez does not continue as a full-time F1 driver with Red Bull, he may remain connected to the organization in other capacities. The Ford Raptor T1+ is part of a broader partnership between Red Bull and Ford, which will expand into Formula 1 when Ford begins developing a next-generation power unit for Red Bull, starting in 2026.

While Perez’s role in this future partnership remains unclear, his involvement with the Dakar Rally project suggests that he could be transitioning into other motorsport opportunities. Red Bull, on the other hand, has yet to solidify its driver lineup for 2025, and reports indicate that junior drivers like Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are being considered as potential replacements for Perez.

For now, Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull hangs in the balance. Despite the uncertainty, his ongoing collaboration with the team on the Raptor T1+ project suggests that his ties to Red Bull may continue even if his time as an F1 driver is nearing its end. The coming months will reveal whether Perez remains on the F1 grid or shifts his focus to new ventures within the Red Bull family.