FORMULA 1

‘Checo’ Perez renews with Red Bull and closes the door on Carlos Sainz

The Mexican driver has renewed his deal for a further two seasons and will partner Verstappen through to 2026.

ANNA SZILAGYIEFE

Despite plenty of speculation suggesting otherwise, Sergio Pérez will drive a Red Bull in both 2025 and 2026 after the Mexican penned a two year deal as confirmed by the Red Bull team on Tuesday. The 34-year-old be Verstappen’s partner for at least two more seasons, making a total of six in the most successful team in recent times. The move does close the door to a long list of interested parties in driving the Red Bull with Carlos Sainz one of the many aspirants.

Pérez, arrived at Red Bull in 2021 with a handful of podiums under his belt, plus a memorable victory at the 2020 Sakhir GP. He had previously driven with the likes of Sauber, McLaren and Force India/Racing Point and after settling in at Milton Keynes, delivered five more wins, three pole positions and one runner-up (2023). As things stand in the current 2024 season, Checo is fifth in the standings with 107 points and despite failing to record any wins, the Mexican has made four podiums this season to date.

Sergio Pérez Mark ThompsonGetty Images for Red Bull Racing

The options for Sainz on the 2025 grid

Sainz’s potential move to Mercedes appears to be off the table once it was known that Hamilton was leaving for Ferrari with the German team seem to be keen on 17-year-old Italian Antonelli with feedback from Mercedes highly positive relating to the teenager.

Executive director of Stellantis John Elkann with third place Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. after the Monaco Grand Prix Jennifer LorenziniREUTERS

Sainz has an offer and declared interest from Sauber and also from Williams, which already has the 2025 car in the wind tunnel and as of today is closer to the points than Sauber and has a Mercedes engine in the face of the extensive regulatory change of power units in 2026.

This is the 2025 F1 grid

Red Bull: Verstappen and Pérez.

Ferrari: Hamilton and Leclerc.

McLaren: Norris and Piastri.

Mercedes: Russell. Options: Antonelli, Sainz, Ocon.

Aston Martin: Alonso and Stroll.

Racing Bulls: unconfirmed. Options: Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Lawson.

Alpine: unconfirmed. Options: Gasly, Jack Doohan, Mick Schumacher, Zhou.

Haas: unconfirmed. Options: Ocon, Bearman, Magnussen.

Williams: Albon and unconfirmed. Options: Sainz, Bottas.

Sauber: Hulkenberg and unconfirmed. Options: Sainz, Ocon, Bottas, Zhou.