Perez set for Red Bull departure – report

It has been reported that Sergio Perez is set to leave Red Bull, according to Sky DE.

The Mexican driver signed a new one-plus-one year deal at the start of the summer break, keeping Perez at Red Bull next season with an option to continue in 2026. 

However, the 34-year-old failed to find any form once the contract had been signed, and finished the season in eighth in the F1 drivers’ standings. 

The exception was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Perez had been stronger than Verstappen and was in contention for a podium, before a late crash with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

He scored just 49 points in the final 18 races, and claimed just four podiums compared to Max Verstappen’s 14. Perez was the only driver in the top four teams not to claim a race win.

It was Perez’s downfall which largely resulted in Red Bull finishing third in the constructors’ title, and 77 points adrift of McLaren. 

An official announcement is expected in the short-term, with Sky DE also reporting that Liam Lawson will be his replacement and partner four-time world champion Verstappen.

Lawson was promoted to Daniel Ricciardo’s RB seat for the final six races of the 2024 F1 season, and delivered some impressive performances.