Perez leaves the door open to his exit from Red Bull

Despite starting this year’s Formula 1 season with two wins in the first four GPs – like Max Verstappen – the Mexican’s performance has since faltered and he failed to make it into any of the next ten races until last Sunday at Monza approaching Dutch .

Perez’s biggest problems centered on the RB19’s preparation for the first qualifying round, which resulted in five consecutive exclusions from the top ten from Monaco to Silverstone.

This has led to a flurry of rumors that RBR could replace him in 2024, a year before his contract expires – perhaps with Daniel Ricciardo, who has returned to the sport and to the Alpha Tauri cockpit with precisely that ambition. If not for 2024, then at least for 2025.

Perez is in his third year at Red Bull, with whom he has had five wins compared to Verstappen’s 37 over the same period. Officially, RBR director Christian Horner says the 33-year-old will stay at Milton Keynes at least until the end of his contract, but Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko is not so sure.

Now, for the first time, Perez himself has hinted that his F1 future may lie outside of Red Bull, speaking to the DAZN Espana network: “Every year you learn new things and that’s why I love this sport so much. You’re always learning something. The most important thing is to learn from your mistakes. stressed the Mexican.

“Given the season we’ve had, it’s important to be in an environment for the next few races where I feel like I can contribute. And if this place where I am now is not for 2025, we need to look for alternatives.”

But right now my priority is to be here, win more races and keep winning championships with Red Bull. I have a contract until the end of next year and at some point in the year we will sit down and talk. concluded the 33-year-old.

What options does Perez have away from Red Bull? The truth is that there aren’t many. It seems difficult to find a place in another of the top five teams, and on the other hand it seems just as difficult to find the motivation to move to a non-leading team – after so many years at Force India / Racing Point and before that at Sauber.

Furthermore, any team that approaches him will need to convince them that he still has the motivation and pace after a disastrous season alongside Verstappen. If a team like Haas or Williams doesn’t appreciate his experience and efficiency, the most likely scenario is that he’ll leave as a multiple Formula 1 winner and national hero of Mexico.

All of this, of course, if Red Bull doesn’t renew his contract. But what alternatives does Milton Keynes have? Helmut Marko recently praised Lando Norris’ skills, saying he is the best of the new generation and would suit Red Bull Racing.

On the other hand, the Brit is under contract with McLaren until the end of next year and the Woking team will do everything to keep him – with the added ‘weapon’ of the MCL60’s recent rapid power upgrade.

However, when asked by the Briton in Monza if he would like to have his friend Verstappen alongside him in the same team, Norris replied: “It’s definitely something I’d be open to in the future.” I think it’ll be great to work with someone like him and at the same time to see if I can stand up to him. I would be open to that.”

RBR have twice tried to sign Norris’ services in the past, but both times the Briton renewed his contract with McLaren. However, he now appears to be the top priority for Milton Keynes’ side ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson. At least for now.