Sergio Perez insists that he’s not “setting any timelines” when it comes to his desire to achieve an extension to his Formula 1 stay with Red Bull beyond the end of this year.
The Mexican is entering the final season of his current deal with Red Bull and is under pressure to earn a renewal after enduring an increasingly turbulent campaign last term.
Perez began the season with two wins from the opening four races but failed to sustain that success and trailed a substantial 290 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen.
However, speaking at the launch of the team’s 2024 car, the RB20, Perez said he intends to remain with Red Bull and he is not concerned with rumours about his future.
“I think I’m at a great team, being part of the Red Bull family is amazing and we’ll see what the future holds,” Perez told selected media including Motorsport Week.
“For now, we are fully focused on the start of the year and ideally we will carry on for four more years in this team.”
When asked if there were certain targets he’d been set heading into the campaign, Perez replied: “No, I think the start of the season is going to be really busy, so we will just be focusing on the first few races. That’s my main objective and I don’t think I am setting any timelines or anything like that.
“I am going to focus on the first five races because to get the most out of it, because it will just be taking a lot of energy out of me and I don’t want any distractions.”
Both Daniel Ricciardo, currently racing for the rebranded RB squad, and Williams driver Alex Albon have been linked with Red Bull returns to possibly replace Perez in 2025.
However, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has been on record as stating that the coveted seat alongside Verstappen for next season remains Perez’s “to lose”.
“Christian plays a massive part in our conversations in our team and he has been involved and looking at ways to help my side and how we can make a better race team together,” Perez added.
Horner also clarified that the reigning World Champions are in a privileged position and would not be rushed to decide whether Perez will retain his current position into 2025.
But having not been handed a reprieve for his F1 career with Red Bull until the 2020 season concluded, Perez is confident he won’t become distracted from the uncertainty.
“I mean, to be honest, you know, when you’ve been for so long in this business you know how it operates, and yeah, I’m just a lot less bothered about it, I want to make sure I’m able to enjoy it first of all, a lot of fun, I have the motivation and the rest will take care of itself,” he explained.
Amid Lewis Hamilton’s shock switch to Ferrari in 2025 being confirmed, Perez reckons several drivers will be angling to get their F1 future resolved earlier in this season.
“I’m sure that most of the drivers are going to be willing to get things done a lot earlier in the year,” he commented.
“But it’s just the approach you have, from my side I am just focusing on having a good year and the rest always takes care of itself as long as you are performing on track.
“I’m not really bothered about it, it’s my 14th season in F1, so for me, the mentality is hitting it well on track.”
