Verstappen Welcomes Perez’s Red Bull Contract Renewal

In a significant development ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing has announced the extension of Sergio Perez’s contract for another two years. The team confirmed that Perez remains the optimal choice to partner with triple F1 champion Max Verstappen, securing the 34-year-old’s place until 2026.

Since joining Red Bull in 2021, Perez has claimed five race victories, although he has often played second fiddle to Verstappen. Despite this, Verstappen, 26, expressed his satisfaction with Perez’s continued presence. “It’s great news that Checo has signed with the team until 2026,” Verstappen stated. 

“I’m glad to be able to continue the successful partnership we’ve built over the past few years. We achieved a record-breaking season last year, and the team is very strong. We’re looking forward to building on this success in the next two years.”

Perez finished second in the drivers’ championship last year, though he scored less than half of Verstappen’s points. Currently, he stands fifth in the championship after eight rounds, trailing behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, as well as McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Team principal Christian Horner has highlighted the importance of having both Red Bull drivers consistently score points, given the competitive strength of Ferrari and McLaren. 

Reflecting on Perez’s contract renewal, Horner remarked, “Now is an important time to confirm our line-up for 2025, and we are very pleased to continue working with Checo. Continuity and stability are crucial for the team, and both Checo and Max form a successful and robust partnership, as shown by our first-ever one-two finish in the championship last year.”

Horner acknowledged the challenges of the current season but expressed confidence in Perez’s abilities. “Checo has had a strong start to 2024 with second places in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, and a podium in China. 

The past few races have been tough with convergence on the grid, but we are confident in Checo’s return to proven form and performance. 

Last year was exceptional, and we need to work hard to retain our titles. However, we are assured in our line-up and the team’s overall strength, which is crucial in this closely contested championship.