“This end of the race is a good summary of the season”

Sergio Pérez concluded his season in a very sad way. Starting tenth on the starting grid, the Mexican was hit by Valtteri Bottas at the entrance to turn 6. After spinning, the Red Bull driver was finally forced to retire, potentially putting end to his adventure within the Austrian team.

So far, the Mexican has always maintained that he will retain his place at Red Bull next year, despite a poor season which saw him finish a poor eighth place in the drivers' championship. Team principal Christian Horner refused to confirm Pérez's position for 2025, despite a new contract being agreed between the team and driver earlier in the season.

Visa Cash App RB drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have both been considered contenders for Pérez's seat. Rumors revealed last week suggest the New Zealander is now in pole position for promotion to the parent team.

Speaking after his early retirement at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Pérez admitted for the first time that his future was uncertain: “At the moment I don't know. I just know that I have a contract to race next year. Unless something changes in the coming days, this will be the situation for next year. “

“For now, all I can say is that I have a contract, which I signed in the middle of the year to race with the team for the next three seasons. So we will see what what will happen and how the conversation will unfold in the days to come.”

“We will talk in a few days. We will discuss the situation of both parties and we will see if we are able to reach an agreement. As I said, I have a contract for next year.”

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

Photo par : Red Bull Content Pool

Sergio Pérez has revealed he suffered a mechanical problem before his contact with Bottas during the opening round. At the same time, he once again said he had failed to get the most out of Red Bull this year, as teammate Max Verstappen won a fourth consecutive drivers' championship.

“The engine was damaged before the contact. Every time I changed gear the clutch would slip, I think we had this problem before. Then there was the contact, I don't know who hit me at the rear when I got the car back, the clutch was stuck. he declared.

“I think it was a very complicated race, a complicated balance. It's a good summary of what happened this season. This end of the race is a good summary of the season. There is no doubt that at the end of the day we drivers depend a lot on our environment, on our car, on what we can get out of it 100%. This year, I had a car that I struggled to use 100% consistently, it was very complicated throughout the year.”