Sergio Perez has revealed that he turned down two separate opportunities to change teams as he reiterated his desire to conclude his Formula 1 career with Red Bull.
Perez’s position at Red Bull has become uncertain amid a disastrous campaign which sees him languish a substantial 242 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen.
Despite Perez having penned a renewal through 2026, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has admitted that a discussion over his drive will happen once the season ends.
The speculation surrounding Perez losing his seat has heightened amid Liam Lawson’s impressive appearances since he replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB mid-season.
However, the Mexican, who has insisted he will remain alongside Verstappen, has expressed that rumours are something that he’s become accustomed to at Red Bull.
“It’s how the sport is. You have one, two bad races, a lot of negative talk about you and so on,” Perez told GQ magazine.
“But it’s also something in the culture of the team as well – with Red Bull. The surrounding talk, the contract talks and so on. It’s just part of the game.”
Perez divulged that two unnamed rival teams have approached him in recent times, but he opted to turn down both advances in order to extend his stint with Red Bull.
“I had an opportunity, two opportunities, to change teams,” he disclosed.
“When I looked at it, I thought, I really love the challenge I have at Red Bull.
“It’s a massive challenge being Max’s team-mate. It’s a challenge that basically trains you for all of it.”
Perez wants to end F1 career at Red Bull
Expanding upon his decision, Perez, having spent his career in the midfield before his move to Red Bull, repeated that he wishes to end his time in F1 at the sharp end.
“So I said, I want to spend my last part of my career at the top, at the very top, where the pressure, it’s full-on,” he continued.
“But ultimately, there is 90 per cent of the grid who would have loved to have my career.”
Perez upbeat despite Brazil struggles
Perez’s dismal recent run continued last time out in Brazil as a spin on the opening lap had a role in him trailing home outside the points places again in 11th position.
However, the six-time F1 race winner argued that his outing at Interlagos represented a positive step in the right direction as he strives to end the campaign on a high.
“I think it was one of the strongest weekends in terms of pace,” he told media including Motorsport Week post-race.
“We put the car on and, in a way, we were very competitive from FP1.
“So I think it’s been a much more competitive weekend. We dropped off a little momentum, but it’s back to us.”
READ MORE – Christian Horner: Red Bull must ‘look at the facts’ with Sergio Perez’s F1 position
