Sergio Perez will no longer race for Red Bull with the Mexican driver leaving the team for the 2025 season.
Perez announced his exit from the seat on social media on Wednesday after driver and team reached “an agreement to part ways”.
No replacement for the Mexican driver next to world champion Max Verstappen has yet been announced, although Sky Sports has understood for several weeks that Liam Lawson will land the drive in a promotion from junior team RB.
In an interview explaining Perez’s departure with Sky Sports NewsRed Bull team principal Christian Horner said a decision had yet to be made between Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda as to who would replace the Mexican.
“Essentially it will be a choice between Yuki and Liam,” said Horner.
Red Bull said in a statement that a further announcement on Verstappen’s next team-mate would be made in due course.
Perez speaks about exit as Horner pays tribute
In a statement announcing his exit, Perez said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team.
“Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.
“A big thank you to every person in the team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Look back at Sergio Perez’s five wins with Red Bull since the Mexican joined the team in 2021
“It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success. A special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support ever day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember…Never give up.”
The 2024 form that proved Perez’s undoing
Eighth in the Drivers’ Championship – 71 points behind seventh-placed Lewis Hamilton and 285 points behind world champion Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen
Lowest percentage contribution of team’s total points among top four outfits – 26 per cent
Nine points across the final eight Grand Prix weekends (Verstappen – 134) and 49 points across the final 18 weekends (Verstappen – 301)
No podium finishes in final 19 Grands Prix
Six Q1 exits and three Q2 exits in qualifying this season
Outqualified Verstappen once in the last 41 attempts
Perez was given a new two-year contract by Red Bull in June but a dismal campaign saw him score fewer than half the points of team-mate Max Verstappen, who won a fourth consecutive drivers’ title.
The Mexican last stood on the podium at the Chinese Grand Prix in April and finished the season by scoring just nine points across the final eight grands prix weekends, results which heavily contributed to Red Bull failing to retain the Constructors’ Championship and finishing third behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sergio Perez clashed with RB’s Liam Lawson in the Mexico City GP
Amid the expectation that the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix earlier this month would be Perez’s swansong for the team after four seasons, Red Bull held discussions with the 34-year-old about his future last week.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports NewsRed Bull boss Horner said: “He’s been a fantastic member of this team. It’s been a tough year for him but he’s a great person and of course played such a key role in the 2021 Drivers’ Championship, 2022 and 2023 Constructors’ titles.
“He was second in the Drivers’ Championship last year, he’s won five grands prix in our cars.
“But he reflected after the season and we sat down and discussed it last week about what the next steps, and he’s decided he’s going to take a bit of time out, take a sabbatical from Formula 1 essentially.
“So we’re sad to see him leave the team but obviously it’s time for him to spend with his young family as well, and what he wants to do in the future.”
‘A choice between Yuki and Liam’
Horner said either Lawson or Tsunoda, who drive for Red Bull’s junior team RB, would now be called up to the main team for 2025 with Sky Sports understanding that it will ultimately be the 22-year-old New Zealander.
“We have all the information that we need,” said Horner of the decision.
“Essentially it will be a choice between Yuki and Liam. Both have got strong credentials.
“We tested Yuki recently at the tyre test in Abu Dhabi for a chance for him to work with the engineering team. Liam has done a lot of testing with us behind the scenes this year as well and has driven very well in the six or seven races that he’s had.
“So, we have all the information. We’re just looking at and considering all of that, speaking with the engineering team as well, and we’ll come to a conclusion in the coming days.”
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
