Why has Perez's Red Bull journey come to an end now?

Sergio Perez’s racing career in Formula 1 appears to be over for now after he and Red Bull agreed a deal to end their relationship with immediate effect.

Perez has been under pressure since he signed a new contract in June to extend his stay at the team until at least the end of 2026. Red Bull had hoped the new deal would, in boss Christian Horner’s words, “settle” Perez’s mind and help him rediscover his best form, but Horner admitted this month that the move “didn’t work”.

Perez has scored just nine points in the last eight events of the season. His last podium was at race five of 2024 in China.

That lack of form – and string of mistakes as the pressure built – meant that Red Bull not only failed to defend their constructors’ title but dropped to P3 in the standings, behind runners-up Ferrari too. That cost the team a significant chunk of prize money – as well as reducing the bonuses each member of the team will receive this winter.

In some ways, you have to feel for Perez. Being Max Verstappen’s team mate is one of the hardest jobs in sport. Racing for Red Bull – with the axe always lingering over your head – is mentally stressful.

The Mexican admitted that as the pressure built and he made more errors, he tried even harder to deliver – and that that had only sparked more mistakes.

However, this is Formula 1. There are only 20 seats on the grid and you have to deliver to keep your spot. Perez will know that – and didn’t do enough.

He ended up eighth in the drivers’ standings – his worst finish in four years with Red Bull – and 285 points behind team mate and champion Verstappen.

Red Bull wanted to find a way to make it work. They respect Perez and what he’s done for the team, including playing a key role in Verstappen winning a maiden world title in 2021 with a combative drive versus Lewis Hamilton in the decider in Abu Dhabi, as well as helping the team win the constructors’ championship in 2022 and 2023.

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However, his form this season has simply not been good enough. The team have done what they can to help him get comfortable. They switched his race engineer, gave him a new chassis, experimented with set-ups and dived into the data.

They found some issues and some members of the team even apologised to him for not having found them sooner. But though he felt more comfortable thereafter, his form on track simply didn’t improve.

The energy drinks firm are not known for their patience – just ask Daniel Ricciardo, who was cut loose midway through this season – but they have uncharacteristically persevered with Perez this season.

It was clear, though, that their patience was wearing thin in the closing stages of the year.

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It is believed they offered Perez the opportunity to leave on his own terms rather than being pushed – but the Mexican remained convinced he still had what it takes to deliver, and was resolute he wanted to continue with a contract he believed allowed him to race for the team next season.

When Red Bull bosses met on Monday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to discuss the future, Perez’s future was top of their agenda – and they ultimately decided that enough was enough. It was time for the 34-year-old six-time race winner to move on.

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They then spent the next 10 days or so working out a deal to facilitate his departure.

Perez leaves F1 after 12 seasons and having built a career that marks him out as a very strong Grand Prix driver who managed his tyres well, was super consistent in the midfield and played a key role in saving the team that is now Aston Martin.

CIRCUIT DE MONACO, MONACO - MAY 29: Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, 2nd position, Sergio Perez, Red Bull — Perez won Monaco '22 for Red Bull

It remains unclear whether he can force his way back onto the grid in 2026, when there could well be two extra seats available, with Cadillac/GM having recently reached an agreement in principle to become the 11th F1 team starting from that season.

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Perez needs to decide whether he’s prepared to take on a new project or pursue a spot lower down the field – or if he’s ready to close this chapter on his career and look at new opportunities.

Liam Lawson, meanwhile, is expected to be named as his replacement, with F2 runner up Isack Hadjar set to step up to RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda.