Sergio Perez will stay on with Red Bull for the 2022 F1 season, with the team keeping the same line-up as this year, as they enter the new era.
Having taken up Perez, Red Bull moved away from its rule of having a non-academy driver in their F1 car, especially in the senior team. The Mexican signed up for one year in 2021 and so far has done moderately well on track, with a win against his name too.
He has had troubles certainly, especially in qualifying, but in the races he has managed himself well. Off-track has been a huge help, with the Mexican putting all his experience to not only help Red Bull, but also Max Verstappen develop further.
With Red Bull entering a new era on the engine side as well, having a same line-up of Perez and Verstappen will help in keeping the consistency. This news, though, ends any outside chance of having Pierre Gasly in the car and even Alexander Albon.
“I’m really happy to be continuing with a great team like Red Bull into the new era of Formula One and it’s a great opportunity for me,” said Perez. “Everyone starts from zero next year with the new regulations, so my only goal is to go all the way to the top with Red Bull. It always takes time to get on top of everything when you join a new team but things have worked well this season and I really enjoy being a part of the Red Bull family.
“We’ve been working hard to deliver results so it’s great to see the Team have faith in me for the future. We have so much more to achieve together and we still have a great challenge on our hands this season so I really hope we can finish the year on a high and carry that momentum into 2022.
“I want to thank all my supporters around the world and especially those in Mexico. From my sponsors to my fans, they have been so enthusiastic since I joined Red Bull so I really hope we can reward them by reaching the top and winning the title,” summed up Perez.
At the same time, Christian Horner, added: “Checo is a highly respected Team member and his experience and race-craft are invaluable as we fight for the Constructors’ Championship. His integration into the wider Team has been seamless and we have been impressed by his performances during the first half of the season which demonstrate what he’s capable of in our car.
“Next year we move into a new era of Formula One with completely revised regulations and cars, and with over 200 races and a decade of experience under his belt, Checo will play an integral role in helping the Team navigate this transition and maximise the RB18. Our current attention is on ending the 2021 season as strongly as possible and we look forward to seeing Checo build on a first successful season with the Team.”
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