Sergio Perez has agreed to an early exit from Red Bull, following a lacklustre 2024 season. The 34 year old is set to be replaced by rising star Liam Lawson

Sergio Perez’s time with Red Bull has come to an unexpected end, with the Mexican driver agreeing to a contract termination two years before its official conclusion. This move follows a challenging 2024 season for Perez, who failed to secure a race victory and only managed to reach the podium four times. As Red Bull celebrated Max Verstappen’s fourth world title, Perez struggled to match his teammate’s dominance, leading to speculation about his future with the team.

Perez, 34, expressed his gratitude towards Red Bull despite the disappointing conclusion to his tenure. “I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team,” he said. “Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience, and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together.”

His departure opens the door for 22-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson, who is set to join the senior team after an impressive stint with Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls. Lawson, who filled in for Perez in six races at the end of 2024 and five the previous year, is expected to be confirmed before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Perez’s replacement, Lawson, will partner Verstappen in what will be a bold move for the young driver. However, Perez himself had expressed doubts about the challenge of being paired with Verstappen, warning that the demands of the seat could overwhelm an inexperienced driver. “Being team-mates with Max at Red Bull as a young driver, I wouldn’t like to be in those shoes,” Perez said in Abu Dhabi. “People cannot underestimate the level of challenge that there is in this seat.”

Although Perez’s departure was seemingly inevitable, negotiations over compensation delayed the formal announcement. Red Bull has not yet disclosed the full details of its 2025 line-up but promised an official announcement in due course.

Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, offered his thanks to Perez for his contributions to the team. “From the moment he joined in 2021, he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first one-two finish in the drivers’ championship,” Horner said. “While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history.”

Max Verstappen also posted a heartfelt tribute to his former teammate on social media. “It’s been an absolute pleasure driving alongside you,” Verstappen wrote. “We’ve had some amazing moments together that I’ll always remember.”

The spotlight now shifts to Lawson, who will look to seize the opportunity and prove himself as Verstappen’s new teammate. As Red Bull prepares for a new era in 2025, all eyes will be on the dynamic duo as the team aims to maintain its dominance in Formula 1.