Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has hinted that Sergio Perez will determine his own future with the team after another disappointing performance at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Perez, who retired from Sunday’s race, has faced mounting speculation over his place alongside Max Verstappen following a season plagued by poor results. The Mexican driver, under contract for 2025, sits eighth in the championship standings with 152 points, a far cry from Verstappen’s dominant 429-point tally. While Verstappen has secured his fourth consecutive driver’s title, Perez has failed to finish on the podium since April and hasn’t placed inside the top six since May’s Miami Grand Prix. Despite a strong start to the season, with three second-place finishes in the opening four races, Perez has scored just 28 points in his last 10 outings.
“I’m going to let Checo come to his own conclusions; nobody’s forcing him one way or another,” Horner said. “It’s not an enjoyable situation for him, but he’s old enough and wise enough to know what the situation is. Let’s see where we are after Abu Dhabi.”
If Perez is moved on, Red Bull has several potential replacements lined up. Liam Lawson, who impressed during a temporary stint earlier this season, is a leading candidate, while Franco-Algerian Isack Hadjar and Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda are also possibilities. Rookie Franco Colapinto was initially considered, but a series of costly crashes with Williams has likely harmed his chances.
As Red Bull prepares for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale, an announcement regarding Perez’s future is expected soon. With Perez struggling to match Verstappen’s consistency, Red Bull faces a critical decision as they plan for 2025 and beyond.
