When he leaves Red Bull F1, Sergio Perez will be able to console himself with a nice jackpot, a consequence of the early termination of his contract with the Austrian team.
Sergio Perez, struggling throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season, finally lost his place at Red Bull F1 to Liam Lawson. If this ousting marks the end of a prosperous period for the Mexican driver, his bank account remains well stocked, despite a lackluster final season.
Sergio Perez's long descent into hell at Red Bull F1
No pole position, no victory, and only 4 podiums in 24 races: the 2024 F1 season has been particularly trying for Sergio Perez. Since the Chinese Grand Prix in April, he has failed to make the podium, contributing to Red Bull's loss of the constructors' title. His future in Formula 1 is darkening for 2025, with all the seats already allocated. However, opportunities could emerge for 2026, particularly with the arrival of Cadillac in the paddock. A duel with Daniel Ricciardo for this future project could emerge.
A costly departure
Although his contract was set to extend until 2026, Red Bull F1 chose to terminate it prematurely. This choice has significant financial consequences for the Austrian team. In addition to high compensation, Perez's ouster led to the loss of several important sponsors he had brought with him.
In 2024, Sergio Perez received $19.5 million, including $12 million in fixed salary and $7.5 million in bonuses, according to Forbes. This makes him the 8th highest paid driver in the discipline. However, this amount remains far behind that of his collaborator Max Verstappen, quadruple world champion, who pocketed 75 million dollars, including 60 million in fixed salary.
Despite a disappointing 2024 record, Sergio Perez could bounce back in 2026 thanks to new opportunities. In the meantime, his exit from Red Bull marks an end of chapter for a driver who played a key role in the team's recent successes.
Having worked for WebGirondins, Daily Sports, beIN Sports and Quinze Mondial, I am currently working at Daily Mercato and We Sport. My passions? Diego Simeone's hyper-defensive football, the Talent League and seeing Roman Reigns in action. My philosophy? Progress a little more every day and bring you the most complete information on each of my articles.