Sergio Perez’s father has just dropped ‘very excited’ hint about where he’ll be racing in 2025

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Sergio Perez heads to his home race in Mexico fighting for his future. Liam Lawson has presented a renewed challenge at RB and forced him to raise his level.

Perez saw off the threat of Daniel Ricciardo, who had a chance of replacing him during the summer break. The 34-year-old only signed a new deal in June, but Red Bull can break it.

It was a one-plus-one arrangement, with the 2025 season supposedly guaranteed and 2026 optional. But Perez is in breach of contract after falling more than 100 points behind teammate Max Verstappen before Spa.

Lawson made an immediate impression at the US Grand Prix last weekend, finishing in ninth place despite starting at the back. He was four times closer to Perez than Perez was to Verstappen.

The Mexican has only finished in the top six in one of the past 13 events. His last podium came in China – the fifth round of a season that’s now 19 races old.

Since then, he’s scored just 64 points. It’s a run that’s seen him fall to eighth in the drivers’ standings, with Verstappen increasingly likely to wrap up a fourth straight title before Abu Dhabi.

Sergio Perez’s father has just addressed Mexican GP retirement rumours

Speaking to Mexican outlet Record, Sergio Perez’s father, Antonio Perez Garibay, defiantly predicted that his son would still become a world champion. He remains ‘very excited’ about his future.

“The best of Checo Perez is yet to come,” he said. “I am sure that in due time, Checo will have the weapons and tools to fight for the world championship. I am very excited and I can say that Checo will be world champion.”

Whether or not you agree with his assessment – and many F1 fans may justifiably ridicule it – he appears to have dropped a clear hint about his son’s future. He would only be this confident if he believed Perez was staying at Red Bull.

Should he lose that seat, it’s unlikely that another contending team would pick him up. Indeed, Sauber have shown interest in Perez, but they’re currently bottom of the constructors’ championship.

Antonio Perez is adamant that the six-time Grand Prix winner will have the ‘tools’ to fight for the title. And that can only realistically happen at Red Bull.

Paddock ‘whisper’ suggests surprise Red Bull could sign surprise name for 2025

Rumours about Perez retiring refuse to go away, with persistent suggestions that he could make an announcement in Mexico. Christian Horner would allow him to paint it as a proactive decision, but in reality his hand would be forced.

One journalist has suggested that Perez could survive beyond the winter, but only so the team have more time to assess Lawson at RB. That seems the best-case scenario at this point, and could still lead to a mid-season driver change.

According to a ‘whisper’ in the paddock, Red Bull could poach Franco Colapinto from Williams for next year. With Yuki Tsunoda or, more likely, Lawson moving up, Colapinto would fill a vacancy at RB.