DECEMBER 31, 2024

Perez set for permanent retirement

Sérgio Pérez’s days as a racing driver may have come to an end when he prematurely retired from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Having now negotiated his departure from Red Bull Racing against a generous finantial packake, the Mexican knows he’ll never get a chance to race for a top Formula 1 team again and has always sounded like a man who didn’t fancy going back to the midfield, after four years driving a car capable of winning Grand Prix and championships.

The 2026 drivers’ market has kicked off as soon as Isack Hadjar was confirmed as Yuki Tsunoda’s team mate for next year, but, in reality, there are not that many seats available and a good chunk of them are linked with Red Bull owned teams. Liam Lawson, in the main team, Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar are, as usual for the Austrian company, on rolling contracts, meaning their seats are not secured for 2026, while George Russell’s current contract with Mercedes runs out at the end of next year. Jack Doohan is the only under driver whose contract expires at the end of next year, while the expected arrival of Cadillac in the field means there will be another two seats that have to be filled in the next 12 months.

Given Mercedes is unlikely to come calling Pérez – Russell should get a contract extension unless Verstappen agrees a sensational move to the German team – and that the doors at Red Bull are now shut for him, Pérez is left with no competitive alternative to return to Grand Prix racing. He recently vowed that, “I have no interest in racing to try and grab a few points here and there”, insisting that, “I’ve proved I can win races, I can be competitive, so unless I’m in a position to fight at the front, I’ve got no interest in staying in Formula 1 after my time with Red Bull comes to an end.”

Of course that was said before Pérez knew he wouldn’t be staying with Red Bull for next season, but he’s unlikely to accept a return with Cadillac in 2026, even if a good contract would be offered to him. Now a father of four, Pérez has a lot of business interests in Mexico, continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Slim family and will be a household name in his country for the rest of his life. With Indycar seemingly not attractive for him and all good seats in the WEC taken, the Mexican may now just take his time to assess what options are left for him, but the most likely scenario is that he quietly goes into retirement, joining Daniel Ricciardo – another recent Red Bull reject – in the pursuit of other interests outside motor racing.