Veteran driver Sergio Pérez addressed his racing future after departing Red Bull
Sergio Pérez broke his silence Friday in the wake of his sudden exit from Red Bull.
The veteran Formula 1 driver signed a new contract with the team this past summer, but a difficult season saw him tumble down the F1 Drivers’ Championship standings, and Red Bull slide to third in the Constructors’ Championship. Questions about his future with the team followed him from circuit to circuit, and shortly after the season ended the team and the driver announced a parting of the ways.
Speaking at a conference in Mexico, Pérez admitted that he is unsure of his future plans, and is taking some time to focus on his family.
“My priority is to enjoy myself, to do things I haven’t done before, to be with my family. In the next six months I will make a decision about what I want for the next step in my career,” said Pérez at a conference in León as quoted by ESPN Deportes.
“It’s too early to give an answer as to whether I intend to return to Formula 1. Everything happened so quickly at the end of last season, I didn’t expect to leave the team,” added the veteran driver.
Pérez will maintain a role with Red Bull, as Team Principal Christian Horner stated that the driver will participate in some show runs for the team in the year ahead, but there could be a path for Pérez to return to the grid, should he desire. The 2026 season will see the F1 field expand by one team, with the recently-approved Cadillac/General Motors team securing a spot on the grid.
While many believe one spot will be filled by an American driver — COlton Herta is a name often linked to that team — a veteran presence alongside may be a wise move for the team. That would make Pérez, and his race-winning experience, a smart move for the new operation.
Whether Pérez would be interested in such a move, however, is another question.
