Red Bull may have to keep Sergio Perez for 2025 despite reports that they are considering whether to replace the Mexican driver.
Perez has come under increasing pressure over his poor performances and results in the second half of the 2024 season, and a DNF in Abu Dhabi - although not his fault - did little to ease that pressure.
The 34-year-old hasn’t stood on an F1 podium since the fifth Grand Prix of the season in China, and hasn't finished higher than sixth since the sixth race in Miami.
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He has exited in Q1 on several occasions this season, and finished last of the classified runners at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Perez's struggles meant that Red Bull could only finish third in this season's Constructors' Championship behind McLaren and Ferrari, despite Max Verstappen winning the Drivers' Championship.
Team principal Christian Horner confirmed that the team would hold talks with Perez about his future after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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The issue, however, is that Perez is contracted for 2025, having signed a contract extension back in June.
Critics at the time suggested that the timing of the contract offer was too early, and that Red Bull should have waited longer - with Horner admitting in an interview with Sky Sports over the Abu Dhabi weekend that the timing 'didn't work out'.
As a result of Perez's contract, Red Bull would need to pay a termination fee to break that deal early, or reach an agreement with Perez to cancel the final year of his deal.
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An alternative, it is reported, would be to make Perez a Red Bull ambassador and promote a current RB driver out of Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson to a race seat.
Such a move may be beneficial to the Mexican as it would allow him to remain visible in the paddock ahead of an 11th team entering the grid in 2026.
But if Red Bull are unwilling to pay an acceptable fee to get Perez out of the contract, the six-time race winner may have an upper hand in talks over his future that could potentially define whether he drives in Formula 1 again.
Topics: Red Bull Racing, Formula 1
Ryan Smart