EXCLUSIVE: Perez reveals talks with ‘a few’ teams as he hints at possible F1 return

Sergio Perez says he is talking to “a few” teams about a potential return to the Formula 1 grid in 2026 – however the Mexican insists he’ll only return if the project makes sense.

Speaking exclusively to F1.com via video call from his home in Mexico, Perez cut a relaxed figure as he discussed life away from F1 for the first time in more than a decade, his interest in returning to the sport that had become his life – and his thoughts on former team Red Bull.

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Last December, Red Bull and Perez announced they had reached an agreement to part ways with immediate effect after four seasons together, despite the 35-year-old having two years left on his contract.

Perez played a key role in helping Red Bull win the Teams’ Championship in 2022 and 2023 – and finished a career-best second in the Drivers’ standings in the latter season – but endured a painful 2024 campaign as he struggled to get to grips with a tricky RB20.

As the pressure mounted, Red Bull and Perez ultimately agreed to go their separate ways at the end of the season, with the news announced after the season-closer in Abu Dhabi.

“Everything happened really late in the season,” said Perez, who also drove for Sauber, McLaren and Force India/Racing Point across a 14-year stint in F1. “I wasn’t really expecting it to happen. It only became clearer once we were in Qatar, and we started to discuss and negotiate my exit of the team. It all happened very quickly.”

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Perez has since spent most of his time back home in Mexico with his wife and four children in what is his first significant break from extensive travel since his karting days, more than two decades ago.

“It's been great to have this amount of time to step back a bit, see the sport from the outside and be able to realise the journey that I’ve had so far in many areas,” said the six-time Grand Prix winner, who also scored 39 podiums.

“I feel like I’m in a privileged position with my career, knowing that I’ve always maximised all my opportunities and that to me as an athlete is very important.”

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With time to unwind and step back from the sport that had long consumed him, Perez feels he’s not done with Formula 1 just yet – but he’d only return if he can find the right project.

“If I find a project that motivates me fully to come back, where the team believe in me and where they appreciate my career, my experience and everything I can bring to a team, it would be very attractive to consider it,” he said.

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"That’s why I’ve given myself at least six months to get all my options on the table and make a decision on what I do next with my career.

“There are a few very interesting projects out there. I’ve been approached by a few teams since Abu Dhabi. Right now, the season has started so a few things will open up in the coming months.

“We are talking to a few parties out there. Once I know all my options, I will make a decision. What is very clear to me is that I’m only coming back if the project makes sense, and it’s something I can enjoy.

“I’ve spent a long time in F1 already, I’ve done most of it. Once you step back, you realise how much you give up in life to be in the sport. So, to be in F1 fully committed, I need the motivation.”

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Speaking of the interest in him, Perez added: “It’s good to be in this position knowing that people are keen on you as a drive. People have short memories in F1.

“Within a couple of races, they forget what you have done. People realise that my position was not the easiest one in F1 – and I’ve done extremely well overall.”

Sources say Cadillac – who are entering Formula 1 as an 11th team next season – are one of the few teams that Perez is talking to.

The American squad, led by Team Principal Graeme Lowdon who was formerly Marussia’s Sporting Director and more recently Chinese racer Zhou Guanyu’s manager, have the Mexican high on their list of potential drivers.

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Perez thinks Tsunoda has right attitude to cope at Red Bull

Perez was disappointed with the way he left the sport – and how his time at Red Bull, where he enjoyed the best results of his career, came to an end.

The last stint was tough with Perez scoring just nine points across eight Grand Prix weekends as he struggled to get the most out of a very difficult car – while his team mate Max Verstappen went on to win a fourth successive title.

His replacement Liam Lawson found it tough, too. The New Zealander qualified last for both the Sprint and Grand Prix last time out in China (the first time a Red Bull has qualified last in any format in F1) and has since been demoted to Racing Bulls after two races ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, with Yuki Tsunoda stepping up to replace him.

“Especially last year, I didn’t get to show what I’m able to do as a driver,” Perez said. “Now, all of a sudden, people realise how difficult the car is to drive.

“When I joined Red Bull, there had been great drivers who had struggled – Alex [Albon], Pierre [Gasly], they are fantastic drivers and they struggled.

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“I spent so long in Red Bull that everyone forgot how difficult the car is to drive, so that was tricky.

“I feel like that if there is a project that makes sense to me – and also with the regulations changing for 2026 – I feel like taking a year out won’t have any impact if I were to come back.”

Perez hopes Red Bull’s fortunes improve after a challenging start to the year and he has also backed Tsunoda to deliver alongside Verstappen.

“I really want the team to do well, as I have a lot of friends at the team,” said Perez. “I spent four years with them and I want to see them doing well. It’s just a very hard thing to talk about.

“Right now, I’m on the outside, I’ve been in touch with some team members there – but when you’re not there internally, it’s hard to know [what’s happening].

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“For me, it was very simple, the car is just quite difficult to get 100% out of it, to get the confidence out of it – and the things I struggled with, even Adrian [Newey, the team’s former design chief] talked about them.

“But I want to wish them the best. Woody, who is a great friend of mine, is engineering Yuki now so I really hope they do well.

“Yuki has the talent, has the speed and, more than that, you need the mentality to cope with it. I think he has the right mentality and the right attitude to cope with it. I hope they will succeed.”

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