Red Bull could offer Sergio Perez new role at the team if he loses Formula 1 seat

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Sergio Perez almost certainly won’t be on the 2025 Formula 1 grid if he loses his Red Bull drive. All alternative options are off the table.

In the past, drivers like Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat have returned to the junior team, now known as RB, after promotions for Alex Albon and Max Verstappen. But they were significantly younger than Perez, who will turn 35 over the winter.

Should Liam Lawson graduate, Red Bull want to sign Franco Colapinto for RB – they must agree a transfer fee with Williams to pull that one off – alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Failing that, F2 title contender Isack Hadjar would most probably get the seat.

As such, Perez isn’t in the conversation for the Faenza outfit. In fact, the only other team with whom he’s been linked are Sauber.

Perez started his career with the Swiss outfit, spending two years there before an infamous move to McLaren. Sauber was a ‘logical’ plan-b for Perez, though it would have involved a rebuilding task rather than trying to support a championship bid.

However, there never seemed to be any serious talks between the two parties over a reunion. Will Buxton wanted to see Perez and Hulkenberg link up again, but the team confirmed this week that they had favoured youth in the form of Gabriel Bortoleto.

Sergio Perez could take on ambassadorial role at Red Bull next year

According to The Race, Red Bull are hoping Perez retires before the end of the year. This is internally seen as a ‘neater’ solution.

The six-time race-winner signed a new one-plus-one contract as recently as June. Red Bull can break Perez’s deal, according to reports, but that could get somewhat messy.

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Indeed, Perez’s management feels his contract is watertight, and their different interpretations could spark a legal battle. Retirement would allow the driver to save face, to a degree at least.

While he’d potentially forego a payout, the report states that Red Bull’s plan could involve an ambassadorial role from next year. That could be a lucrative deal for both parties given his huge marketing value in Latin America.

The job offers Red Bull made to Daniel Ricciardo before F1 exit

There are striking similarities with Red Bull’s handling of Daniel Ricciardo’s exit. The Australian lost his seat after the Singapore GP, exactly three-quarters of the way through the season.

Ricciardo was offered the reserve driver role, having already taken on that responsibility in 2023. But this time he rejected it.

Christian Horner told Ricciardo he could be an ambassador, though it’s unclear where he stands on that idea. Horner said he was still thinking it over.

This week, Horner told the Red Bull factory that Perez had to ‘step up his game’. While he’s seemingly safe until the end of the season – that has been in doubt for months – his 2025 prospects look rather bleak.