Sergio Perez disclosed that he warned Red Bull it would be expensive to replace him in a candid revelation about his last conversation with team principal Christian Horner. Following a challenging 2024 F1 season, Perez was succeeded by Liam Lawson.
Perez’s inconsistent performance throughout the season fueled ongoing doubts about his place on the team. There were rumors that Daniel Ricciardo was close to taking his seat during the 2024 mid-season break. When Perez’s results did not improve, Red Bull decided to pay him off and bring in Lawson instead.
However, Lawson’s tenure with Red Bull was even less impressive, as he was dropped after only two races. Subsequently, Hiroki Tsunoda was given an opportunity alongside Max Verstappen but generally struggled as well. It is expected that Tsunoda will be replaced by Isak Hajar next year, potentially marking the end of Tsunoda’s F1 career.
Since Ricciardo’s unexpected departure from Red Bull to Renault in 2019, the team has struggled to find a second driver who can match Verstappen’s level. There is a theory circulating that Red Bull designs its cars around Verstappen’s driving style. Some claim the second car does not perform the same or requires more time for upgrades.
In an interview with the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, Perez recounted his final words to Horner: “Thank you so much for everything, and I’m so sorry to everyone who comes here, because it’s going to cost a lot of money.”
Max Verstappen has secured the F1 drivers’ championship for four consecutive years and remains in the hunt for a fifth title. He trails Lando Norris by 24 points with two races remaining, and Norris can clinch his first championship by finishing second in both events.
Perez expressed that regardless of who wins, Verstappen is destined to become “the best driver in the history of the sport” due to a Red Bull project designed specifically for him. Perez said, “What happened with Red Bull made me realize that, in the end, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Being at Red Bull was very tough, and drivers coming in will face the same challenges because Red Bull’s car is complex and requires adapting to Verstappen’s style. I believe he will be the greatest driver in history. The Red Bull project was created for him.”
Fan Take: This news highlights the immense pressure and challenges even top drivers face in the highly competitive Red Bull environment, underscoring how dominant Verstappen has become. For racing fans, it signals a turning point where Red Bull might need to rethink how it develops talent and designs cars to maintain their edge in F1.
