Sergio Perez to Leave Red Bull Early After Contract Termination

Sergio Perez will leave Red Bull Racing two years before the end of his contract after reaching a termination agreement with the team. This decision follows a disappointing season for Perez, who failed to win a race and finished on the podium only four times while his teammate, Max Verstappen secured his fourth world title. Perez, 34, expressed gratitude for his time at Red Bull, calling it an unforgettable experience. The Mexican driver, who helped Red Bull secure two Constructors’ Championships will likely be replaced by 22-year-old Liam Lawson.

Lawson has shown promise during his six race appearances at the end of 2024 and the team confirmed his promotion before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Meanwhile, French driver Isack Hadjar, who finished second in Formula 2 will join Racing Bulls alongside Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, who the team overlooked for a senior seat. Red Bull had already decided to part ways with Perez though he initially resisted leaving. Perez negotiated compensation before agreeing to the termination.

Team principal Christian Horner thanked Sergio Perez for his contributions and acknowledged his role in Red Bull’s historic victories including their first-ever one-two finish in the drivers’ championship. Despite the team’s decision, questions have arisen about Horner’s judgment, especially given his re-signing of Perez in May 2024 just as Perez’s performance began to decline.

Perez’s slump in form mirrored a similar drop in 2023, with his last podium finish coming in China. While Perez helped Verstappen win his first title in 2021 with key defensive moves in Abu Dhabi, his struggles to match Verstappen’s performances contributed to Red Bull losing the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren and Ferrari in 2024.