At the most recent Qatar Grand Prix, Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing faced several setbacks. While his teammate Max Verstappen achieved victory, Perez was involved in an accident during the sprint race and received three penalties for exceeding track limits on Sunday.
Following these incidents, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner expressed the need for a candid conversation with Perez, emphasizing the importance of a balanced driver pairing, similar to those of Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren.
After the race in Qatar, there were rumors circulating on the internet suggesting that Perez might announce his retirement from Formula 1 at his home race, the Mexican Grand Prix in October. However, Perez, who is under contract with Red Bull until 2024, dismissed these speculations, stating that he found them amusing. He asserted his commitment to his current team and expressed his belief in having a future in Formula 1 beyond his current contract.
Perez humorously remarked, “I’m just laughing at it. There’s nothing I can do. I am fully focused on my job. That really sums up my season. A guy said something about me, and suddenly it becomes true. But I have a contract for next year, and I have no reason not to complete that contract. I’m going to give my very best to it. I’ve made a commitment. However, I firmly believe that this will not be my final contract in Formula 1.”