F1 News: Perez still Red Bull's 'first option' for 2025

(GMM) Sergio Perez is Red Bull’s “first option” to serve as Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025 according to Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko (pictured).

Recent rumors suggested the Mexican driver had actually turned down a single-year offer, counter-proposing at least a two-year deal including 2026.

“Nothing has been signed yet and it’s not the time to think about the contract now, my focus is on this weekend,” Perez, 34, said at Monaco.

Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The good news for Perez is that he’s still in the running, despite struggling through a particularly difficult weekend at Imola a week ago.

“Talks are ongoing and Checo is still our first option,” Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

“We want to have clarity on this before the summer break, even if we are certainly not putting any pressure on ourselves.”

A theoretical alternative is Yuki Tsunoda, who continues to impress at the junior RB squad. “He is of course also part of the talks,” Marko confirmed.

“In general, we have options in his contract to tie him down for several years.”

Some believe the real hold-up is because Red Bull is nervous that Verstappen might tire of the team’s ongoing internal conflict and join Adrian Newey in prematurely jumping ship.

“It’s quite a change,” the triple world champion admitted to Bloomberg. “It’s really a shame that Adrian is leaving the team.

“But I completely trust the team for the future. The confidence is very high, and I look forward to the coming years.”

Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko arrives in the Paddock on a tender during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 23, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Verstappen has consistently said that his only real requirement is that he sits in the fastest car possible. So does that mean he’s suddenly looking at McLaren and Ferrari, who are steadily closing the gap on Red Bull?

“Well, it doesn’t work like that,” he smiled at Monaco. “I mean, I think we still have a very, very fast car. So I’m happy where I’m at.”

Toto Wolff’s hope, however, is that Verstappen may be nervous about Honda’s looming departure and Red Bull’s ability to produce its own engine for 2026.

“There’s so much investment going on with the engine side of things,” the Dutchman insists. “And I’m happy.

“I mean, I think if you start thinking like that, you could almost change teams every single race. But it’s not on my mind.”

However, the internal conflict could ramp up again at Red Bull, given that Max’s father Jos, and team co-owner Mark Mateschitz, are both expected at Monaco this weekend.

“Let’s see how it goes for us here,” Marko said at Monaco. “The gap is shrinking and we’ve had problems in practice and qualifying lately.

“For me, (Ferrari’s Charles) Leclerc is one of the main favorites because he was always incredibly fast here and often had bad luck, so he will be extremely motivated to have a say in the victory.”