Martin Brundle is ‘certain’ of Sergio Perez future at Red Bull after ‘terrible’ admission

Follow us on Google Discover

Martin Brundle is ‘certain’ of what future awaits Sergio Perez after the Sky Sports F1 pundit revealed his ‘gut feeling’ over if Red Bull will sack the Mexican after this year.

Question marks have continually hovered over Perez throughout the term after enduring yet another disappointing season. Max Verstappen has proven Red Bull have had a package able to battle for another drivers’ title. But the 34-year-old has seldom threatened his teammate.

Perez needed a strong season this year to convince Red Bull that he merited a future for the team after entering 2024 in the last 12 months of his contract. But even since signing a one-year extension with the option of another this June, doubts have remained for Perez’s place.

Martin Brundle believes Sergio Perez has driven his final Mexico City GP for Red Bull

Red Bull hoped extending Perez’s contract would help take the pressure off the Guadalajara native and see him get his Formula 1 career back on track. But it has proven to be a mistake for the team from Milton Keynes as his form then only got worse after putting pen to paper.

Even Perez crashing with Kevin Magnussen on the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix did not dissuade Red Bull from sanctioning a contract extension. He then crashed in Canada, put his RB20 in the gravel in qualifying at Silverstone and last finished in the top five back in Miami.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

With Perez’s plight also costing Red Bull in their constructors’ championship defence against McLaren and Ferrari, Brundle is now convinced that time is up for him at the team. The Sky Sports pundit’s ‘gut feeling’ is that Red Bull will buy Perez out of his contract after this year.

“I think it certainly is [his last Mexico City Grand Prix] in a Red Bull,” Brundle conceded while speaking on Sky Sports F1 (27/10, 19:02) before the race. “That would be my gut feeling…

“He’s had a great career and I’m sure he’d like it to last a little bit longer. But we’re seeing so many young guns coming into the teams now and doing a great job. And obviously Red Bull are staring third in the constructors’ championship right in the face now.

“You can’t afford, and I’m not saying this about Sergio, no team can afford a passenger. So, for 2025, they need both drivers in tip-top form and unless he can do something miraculous in the next five weekends of Formula 1 racing, that won’t be him.”

Sergio Perez may have to hope Audi steps forward if Red Bull sack the Mexican

It would cost Red Bull $5m (£4m) to buy Perez out of his contract. But replacing him has still been under discussion in Milton Keynes for months given the Mexican’s troubles which may not only cost them millions in Formula 1 prize money but also in the bonuses from sponsors.

Perez also noted “I know I’ve had a terrible season, a very difficult one” before what Brundle believes will be his final home race for Red Bull. He arrived at the Mexico City GP on a run of 14 Grand Prix without a podium finish since finishing in third at the Chinese GP back in April.

READ MORE: F1 2025 driver line-up with every team’s confirmed entry for the grid

So, if Perez cannot improve his form across the final four rounds of 2024, starting at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, he will naturally leave Red Bull to consider promoting Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda from Visa Cash App RB. His career in Formula 1 may even come to an abrupt finish.

Unless Red Bull and Perez agree to a pity offering that sees him race for RB in 2025, his one hope for a seat on the Formula 1 grid next term is convincing Audi that he is the right driver for Sauber. The German brand owns the other vacant seat as it prepares to enter F1 in 2026.