Sergio Perez will stay with Red Bull for at least another two years: What the Mexican reveals about the negotiations and what Max Verstappen thinks about the extension
By extending Sergio Perez’s contract by two years, Red Bull has set the course for the future and ensured stability alongside Max Verstappen
In any case, the world champion himself said on Thursday in Montreal: “It’s good. I’m happy for him too. And I’m glad he’s staying. We’ve always worked very well together.”
For Verstappen, the extension brings clarity that he will continue to have a reliable number two at his side at Red Bull, who, as their history together shows, can challenge him on good days, but cannot pose a permanent threat. So it’s no wonder that the Dutchman is a fan of the Perez extension:
“It brings stability to the team. And that is something that I believe is very important within the team,” says Verstappen, who has recently been repeatedly linked with a move to Mercedes, but on paper has a contract with Red Bull until 2028.
Perez is thinking about the end of his career – at Red Bull
The newly extended Perez also believes that the Verstappen-Perez duo could continue to exist beyond 2026, as the renewed working paper is not yet his last major contract in Formula 1 – although the Mexican emphasizes that he would like to end his career with his current racing team one day
“If you look at Fernando or Lewis, I’m sure there’s still a long way to go,” says Perez, adding: “I don’t think I’ve signed my last contract. I just don’t believe that, but I don’t think it’s something you feel either.”
Perez: “If you dedicate two more years to Formula 1, that’s a lot of time, a lot of energy and just a long way to go. To be honest though, I really don’t think about that. But yes, I’m pretty sure I’d like to finish my career with Red Bull. “
Perez: “What people say… “
According to Perez, the fact that there were prophecies of doom in the wake of his contract extension that the team only kept him in order to keep Verstappen happy with a predictable number two doesn’t bother him: “There are always different intentions in Formula 1, I’m aware of that. It’s been with each of us drivers since we’ve been in the sport.”
But Perez also has an answer to this: “In my opinion, the best thing is to simply close my visor and concentrate on my job, to do the best for myself and for my career,” says the Mexican, because: “In the end, when my career is over, that’s all that will count for me. What people say… I mean, everyone has an opinion,” said Perez, “but I’m happy with what I’ve achieved. “
However, the fact that the long-term perspective has now been established also helps in the short term, as Perez emphasizes: “In every negotiation you go through a process, which is not so nice between races when everything is just full throttle. So it’s great to have that distraction out of the way for the team and me now, so we can focus fully on performance again.”
The negotiations themselves were very “straightforward”, as Perez emphasizes: “I’ve been with the team for a few years and then it’s always easier, I think, to reach an agreement.”
Concrete talks with other racing teams were therefore not on the agenda for Perez: “Of course you always talk and there were other options out there. But for me, plan A, B and C was that I would definitely stay with Red Bull,” said the Mexican, who is full of roses for his team: “I really want to finish my career here, whenever that is.”
Perez: “The team has given me so much in my career that I am really very happy here. That’s why I want to do my best for this team until the last round.” Regardless of whether this comes in 2026, 2027 or even 2028
