The news that Daniel Ricciardo was being replaced at Visa Cash App RB F1 Team by Liam Lawson was expected. Still, the announcement has not stopped rumors from flying around the Formula 1 paddock. The latest rumor held that Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez was set to announce his retirement at the Mexico City Grand Prix, his home race.
However, the Red Bull driver took to social media on Sunday to push back on that report, in perhaps perfect fashion:
Pérez’s tenure at Red Bull has been a constant flash point over the past calendar year. While he was climbing to second in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship, and aided the team to their second-straight Constructors’ title, many wondered if Red Bull would even bring him back for the 2024 season.
Then when this year began, many believed Red Bull would not sign him to a new contract, perhaps replacing him with Lawson, Ricciardo, or Yuki Tsunoda for the 2025 season. The team went in a different direction, extending Pérez on a new deal that could keep him at Red Bull through 2026.
Then came the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw Pérez crash with Carlos Sainz Jr. in the closing stages, perhaps denying Pérez what could have been his first podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix back in April. Pérez’s father, Antonio Perez Garibay, suffered a health scare after that race and was hospitalized. Thankfully, he has been discharged from the hospital after experiencing a cardiac incident.
As for his son, well, he’s not leaving.
