In discussion with RTL, Helmut Marko talked about the exit of Sergio Pérez from the Red Bull F1 team ahead of the 2025 season, and the possibility of a comeback to the sport in 2026. Liam Lawson gets his opportunity alongside Max Verstappen.
Termination of the contract of Sergio Pérez cost Red Bull F1 millions, Marko confirms
Back in June, Red Bull F1 announced Sergio Pérez would be staying until 2026 as a two-year deal was agreed. Naturally, however, there would have been clauses in it.
4 podiums in the first 5 races saw the 6-time race winner start the season very strongly. Unfortunately for Pérez, he never finished inside the top 5 over the rest of the 2024 F1 season after his P4 in Miami.
Asked about how expensive it was for Red Bull F1 to cut ties with Pérez, Marko gave a vague answer.
“Well, within the terms of the contract, an acceptable result was found for both sides.”
Pushed on whether it cost them millions, the Austrian confirmed that.
“It’s Formula 1, so yes.”
The reaction of Pérez to what happened
In the final 18 rounds, Pérez only scored 49 points after bagging 103 in the first six events. On the opposite side of the Red garage, Verstappen bagged 301 points after Miami. They ended up finishing P1 and P8 in the Drivers’ Championship, with a gap of 285 points.
As the performance of the RB20 fell off, alongside Pérez’s struggles, Red Bull tumbled to P3 in the Constructors’ Championship.
Throughout his media sessions as the season wore on and he continued to struggle to score points, the 34-year-old kept saying he has a contract and would carry on at Red Bull F1 in 2025.
However, it became clear at the F1 Qatar GP weekend that the patience of Red Bull had run out as Pit Debrief and other websites broke the news that Pérez would be out the door following the Abu Dhabi GP.
Marko explained how Pérez kept believing he could turn things around to keep his seat at Red Bull F1. Unfortunately for the Mexican, it did not happen.
“Not at first. He kept hoping that he would find his old form again.
“I mean, he won five races with us, became vice champion. But unfortunately his form did not return and he had to accept that a resurrection [of his career] was not possible for him in this environment.
“Due to this the separation is for the best, and it gives him many possibilities for the future.”
Could Sergio Pérez return to the F1 grid in 2026?
After finishing over 200 points behind Max Verstappen in 2021, 2023 and 2024, as well as the struggles in qualifying, Pérez’s reputation in other teams will have taken a considerable hit. Nonetheless, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon have managed to rebuild their careers in F1 following their tough spells at Red Bull Racing.
Marko believes Pérez is targeting a comeback in 2026 as he looks to continue his F1 career. Cadillac will join the grid then, and the Mexican will surely be a candidate if they are looking for an experienced driver. He had been a permanent fixture on the grid since his debut at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.
“I think he’s still holding out hopes for Formula 1. But there are no seats for next year.
“However, if he takes a year off, he’s an experienced guy, then he can always find something new.”
Co-Author: Rebecca Malitz
