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The former Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez says he is in talks with Formula One teams about a return to the grid after having his contract ended two years early. The 35-year-old Mexican, who won six races during his 14 years in F1, was replaced at Red Bull this season by Liam Lawson, who also struggled and was quickly demoted after two races. “Especially last year, I didn’t get to show what I’m able to do as a driver,” Pérez told the F1 website. “Now, all of a sudden, people realise how difficult the car is to drive.”
Pérez said he had been “approached by a few teams since Abu Dhabi”, a reference to his final race last December as teammate to the eventual champion, Max Verstappen. “There are a few very interesting projects out there. It’s good to be in this position knowing that people are keen on you as a drive,” he said. “People have short memories in F1. People realise that my position was not the easiest one in F1 and I’ve done extremely well overall.”
Pérez was runner-up to Verstappen in 2023 and made 39 finishes on a race podium. He said he will take “at least six months” to weigh his options and decide on a next career move.
Lawson has said his dismissal came as a total surprise. The New Zealander was sent back to Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, after qualifying last for both the sprint and the race at the Chinese Grand Prix.
“It was definitely a shock. It’s not something that I saw coming,” he told Sky Sports. “The discussions we were having weren’t really leaning in this direction, so it was definitely not something that I expected.”
Lawson’s poor showing in China prompted Red Bull’s motor sport director, Helmut Marko, to concede the team had “made a mistake” by promoting the 23-year-old rookie. “We had a rocky testing. We had a rocky first weekend in Melbourne with practice,” said Lawson. “And then obviously China was a sprint. But obviously, it’s not my decision, so I’m here to make the most of this one.”
Verstappen’s new Red Bull teammate at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend is Yuki Tsunoda.
The Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, felt they had “asked too much, too soon” of Lawson.
“Of course, it is horrible because you are taking away someone’s dreams and aspirations,” Horner said. “But sometimes you have got to be cruel to be kind, and I think that in this instance, this is not the end for Liam.
“I was very clear with him, is that it’s a sample of two races. I think that we have asked too much of you too soon.”
