Fantastic week, victory in the most important grand prix of Formula 1, in Monaco, and stellar renewal until 2024 with the champion’s car: Red Bull announced on Tuesday the extension of Sergio Pérez’s contract for two more years. “I have signed too early,” Checo was heard saying on the podium in Monte Carlo, and that statement sparked rumours. Now it is known: he stamped his seal on the new agreement in the Principality, before the race, and at 32 years old he is committed to the signing of Milton Keynes that has helped him win two races (Azerbaijan 2021 and Monaco 2022, before he had defeated with Racing Point at Sakhir 2020), achieve a pole (Arabia 2022) and climb to the podium nine times (of a total of 19 in his career).
Red Bull boss Christian Horner comments on the announcement: “Since joining, Czech has done a fantastic job. Not only is he a great team player, but his comfort level has grown into a real force. This year he has taken another step and the gap with world champion Max has closed significantly. His association with Max can lead us to the biggest prizes in Formula 1.” In the 2022 standings, Pérez is third with 110 points, just 15 behind Verstappen after seven grands prix.
Pérez arrived as a defined squire at Red Bull last year, after failed elections in charge of Helmut Marko that burned youth squads such as Kvyat, Gasly or Albon prematurely. Along the way, Ricciardo or Sainz left, pilots of proven talent who once belonged to the energy house. The Mexican accepted the secondary role with Verstappen, but little by little he is able to progress in these circumstances to the point of reversing the situation, to be ahead of Max on the grid and win races like Monaco, on a perfect weekend for you. “It has been an incredible week, winning Monaco is the dream of any driver and this announcement until 2024 makes me extremely happy. I am proud to belong to the team and I feel at home. My relationship with Max, on and off the track, It helps to go forward even more. I am excited about what the future can bring us, “says Pérez in the official statement.
There are no free flyers among the greats
His renewal closes the last steering wheel in a large available for 2023, because Mercedes has Russell for the long term and Hamilton signed next year as well. Ferrari renewed Sainz before Ímola until 2024, the same duration as Leclerc’s current contract. McLaren also tied Norris (2025) and has Ricciardo until 2023, although in recent weeks it has been distilled that this date may be revised downwards due to the Australian’s poor performance this year. Of the heavyweights on the grid, Vettel is missing, whose continuity in Aston Martin and F1 is unknown; Y Above all, Fernando Alonso is missing, who wants to continue two or three more years in the World Cup, quite possibly leading Alpine.