Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has struggled throughout the F1 season and is in danger of losing his race seat for the 2025 season.
Sergio Perez’s ability to function as a cash cow for Red Bull may be the primary reason why the Formula One team has not fired him, according to Formula E driver Mitch Evans. The 34-year-old has struggled this season, failing to finish on the podium since the Chinese Grand Prix in April.
He is presently eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, 146 points behind teammate and leader Max Verstappen. Perez has long been a popular personality in Formula One, with the majority of his popularity coming from his home nation of Mexico, where the Guadalajara native receives a hero’s welcome when the Mexican Grand Prix rolls around on the F1 calendar (this year will be October 27th).
Evans cites Perez’s ability to pack the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track as a key reason for his continued success with the F1 champions. Evans also acknowledges that Perez’s economic advantages make it challenging for other drivers to compete for race seats.
“Many of the guys who get an opportunity bring money,” the New Zealander told Total Motorsport. “Look at Sergio Perez; he keeps bringing money into Red Bull, and you can’t compete with him. He isn’t a horrible driver, but you don’t race against him because of that.
“A lot of ex-Formula 1 drivers have come to Formula E and received a massive reality check,” he said. “It’s difficult to compete against a driver on sheer merit. That’s how it is. Many Formula One drivers that come to Formula E are given a harsh reality check. It’s a shame De Vries didn’t work out; I’m not sure if that reflected negatively on us.” Evans, 30, finished second in the 2024 Formula E season, losing narrowly to Pascal Wehrlein.
Despite his recent problems, Perez has maintained the confidence of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who backed the Mexican after a disappointing performance at the Canadian Grand Prix in June, only a week after signing a contract extension. The Brit described Perez’s character as follows: “What we see with him time and time again, you think he’s on the ropes and then he rebounds back.
“He’s a tough racer. He is a rough character. I believe it hurts him more than anyone else. He’ll be determined to return and show everyone the form we know he’s capable of, which he demonstrated in the first four races of the season in Barcelona.
With Carlos Sainz joining Williams, Lewis Hamilton signing with Ferrari, and Esteban Ocon getting a spot with Haas, several drivers are already off the table for the 2025 season if Red Bull decides to replace Perez.
The Mexican’s contract has a clause that allows him to negotiate with other teams if he is not assured a spot in 2025 by the end of September. Red Bull will need to decide quickly whether to keep Perez or replace him with Daniel Ricciardo or reserve driver Liam Lawson.
