Things could be set to go from bad to worse for Red Bull.
In the days after the F1 sensationally axed Daniel Ricciardo for the remainder of the 2024 season, a damning rumour surrounding another driver has been floated.
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As the grid enjoys multiple weeks off ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, Red Bull have found themselves facing a brutal reality.
Sergio Perez has been on the hot seat throughout the season as he struggles to deliver consistent results, now his career could be coming to an early end.
Formula 1 journalist Joe Saward delivered the bombshell report as he declared the 34-year-old driver and the team had “worked out a plan” to announce his departure following the Mexican Grand Prix at the end of October.
“One interesting rumour in Singapore was that Perez and Red Bull have worked out a plan that will see him announce his retirement in Mexico, giving him a more gentle exit than being fired and will be less painful for Red Bull sales in the Americas,” Saward wrote.
“This would give Red Bull the chance to shop around for a new driver in 2025.
“Despite its expensive young driver programmes, Red Bull does not have someone ready to step up alongside Max Verstappen.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has recently commented on Mercedes driver George Russell, however Saward says the team loves what they’re seeing from Aussie Oscar Piastri.
“They seem to be very impressed with Oscar Piastri (as we all are) and they see chinks in the Woking armour,” Saward wrote.
“Because Oscar’s manager Mark Webber is close to Red Bull and no doubt is intrigued by the question of how McLaren can keep two stars happy in the years ahead.”
If the rumours are true and Perez does retire following the Mexican Grand Prix, it will leave Red Bull chasing a replacement for the final four races of the season.
A position made even worse for the team in the wake of Ricciardo being let go with Liam Lawson taking his place alongside Yuki Tsunoda in the VCARB.
Despite the swirling rumours surrounding Perez’s future, the Mexican driver has no intention of going anywhere until his contract expires.
Perez put pen to paper on a new two-year deal in June that keeps him tied to Red Bull throughout the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
“These past six months I did think about it (retirement), but it took me three seconds to make the decision,” he told DAZN.
“In the end, it would be the easy route, after so many years to quit and kind of give up. I would never have forgiven myself for that.
“I want to finish my career when I want and not when someone tells me. That’s my main focus: to get to the point where I can decide my future.
“For now I am very motivated, to be honest, I really want to continue in F1. I enjoy it. Especially the good times you really enjoy, but you also learn to enjoy the bad ones.
“For now I have two more years on my contract, and two years in F1 is a long time, but I know that the end is getting closer.”
The Formula 1 season will continue when the grid heads to Texas for the US Grand Prix with the race taking place on October 21 from 6am (AEST).
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