RED BULL have made a stunning U-turn by agreeing a new contract with Sergio Perez.
The Mexican driver, 34, had an uncertain future at the Bulls due to his relative under performance to three-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen.
However, just one week after suffering a horror crash at the Monaco Grand Prix that cost the team “two or three million”, Perez – also known as Checo – has signed a new deal with the team to keep his seat until 2026.
A statement on the team’s website said: “Oracle Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce that Checo has committed his future to the Team with a two-year extension to his existing contract.”
The likes of Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz had been linked with taking the seat to partner Verstappen from 2025.
But it seems Red Bull team bosses wanted a steady pair of hands as they navigate new waters from the 2026 regulation change.
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Perez has won five races with the team and has 29 podium finishes with three pole positions, including the first by a Mexican F1 driver, and currently sits fifth in the driver standings this year.
Team Principal and Red Bull CEO Christian Horner said on the move: “Now is an important time to confirm our line-up for 2025 and we are very pleased to continue working together with Checo.
“Continuity and stability are important for the Team and both Checo and Max are a successful and robust partnership, securing our first ever one-two finish for the Team in the Championship last year.
“Checo has had a strong start to 2024 with second places in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Japan and then his podium in China.
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“The past few races have been tough, there is convergence on the grid, but we are confident in Checo and look forward to his return to proven form and performance, that we so often see.
“Last year was a unicorn season and we will need to work hard to retain our titles, but we are assured in our line up and with the Team as a whole, which is imperative in what is shaping up to be a close fought Championship this year.”
Perez added: “I am really happy to commit my future to this great Team, it is a challenge like no other racing for Oracle Red Bull Racing, both on track and off track.
“I am delighted to be staying here to continue our journey together and contribute to this Team’s great history for two more years.
“Being part of the Team is an immense challenge, and one I love. We have a great challenge this year and I have full trust in the whole Team that the future is bright here and I am excited to be part of it.
“I want to thank everyone for all the trust they are putting in me, it is a lot and I want to pay it back with excellent results on track, and off track.
Why do F1 cars come apart so dramatically in a crash?
F1 safety has come a long way in it’s 74 year history.
Indeed, a massive tell of this is the safety features of the cars in the modern era.
One feature of this is the way the cars break apart in a high-speed crash much like crumple zones seen in road cars.
F1 cars now break apart during severe collisions as a means of dissipating the kinetic energy away from the driver taken during the incident.
The cars themselves are built around a monocoque – also known as a “survival cell” – with 2018 seeing the introduction of the halo prominently on top around the drivers head to boost this further.
This safety cell is made from 6millimetre of exceedingly strong carbon fibre composite with a layer of kevlar, which is penetration resistant and can absorb a huge amount of energy in a crash.
Meanwhile, the halo was a large reason as to why Romain Grosjean survived his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.
“I think we have a lot of work to do, we have a lot more Championships to win together.”
Checo’s new deal means half of the available seats for the 2025 season have now been filled.
While there were no driver changes between this season and last season, next year has already threw up a number of major driver transfers.
Lewis Hamilton stunned the world of motorsport by announcing he was leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari and partner Monaco race winner Charles Leclerc next year.
Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg announced he was leaving Haas last week to join Sauber, which may pave the way for Brit teen Ollie Bearman to come into F1.
Asides from Red Bull, McLaren are the only team to have already confirmed they are sticking with the same driver line up in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Hamilton is replacing Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, and the Spaniard has been linked with a number of vacant seats on the grid, including Williams.
Meanwhile, a separate incident at the Monaco GP saw Esteban Ocon lambasted by bosses at Alpine and has since led to the announcement that he will not carry on with the team next year.
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George Russell (Mercedes), Alex Albon (Williams) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) are the only other drivers to have confirmed seats in F1 for 2025.
The next race for F1 will get underway in Montreal, Canada – where Hamilton celebrated the first of his record-breaking 103 F1 race wins 17 years ago – on June 9.
F1 2025 grid
Here are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes: George Russell and TBC
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and TBC
Williams: Alex Albon and TBC
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and TBC
Alpine: TBC x2
RB: TBC x2
Haas: TBC x2
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
