As we move well and truly into the silly season, several teams on the F1 grid are already finalizing their driver line-ups. The latest to do so is Red Bull, who have confirmed a new contract with Sergio Perez for 2022.
Perez, who is Max Verstappen‘s third teammate, having joined him in for the first time this season at the age of 31, appears to have concluded Red Bulls’ hunt for a competitive teammate for Max since Daniel Ricciardo departed the team three years ago. With Perez’s victory at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he became the first Red Bull driver other than Verstappen to win a race since 2018, and currently sits fourth in the world championship battle.
“Checo is a highly respected team member and his experience and race-craft are invaluable as we fight for the Constructors’ Championship,” said Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing team principal. “His integration into the wider team has been seamless and we have been impressed by his performances during the first half of the season which demonstrates what he’s capable of in our car.”
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Underlining his confidence in Perez, Horner added: “Next year we move into a new era with completely revised regulations and cars, and with over 200 races and a decade of experience under his belt, Checo will play an integral role in helping the team navigate this transition and maximize the RB18.”
Perez is under no illusion of the challenges that he’ll face next year: “Everyone starts from zero next year with the new regulations, so my only goal is to go all the way to the top with Red Bull.”
Remarking on the contract, Perez stated: “It always takes time to get on top of everything when you join a new team but things have worked well this season and I really enjoy being a part of the Red Bull family. We’ve been working hard to deliver results so it’s great to see the team have faith in me for the future.”
