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Sergio Perez has revealed that he turned down offers from two other Formula 1 teams to remain with Red Bull for the 2025 season, despite growing criticism over his recent performances. The Mexican in his fourth season with Red Bull, signed a contract extension earlier this year but has struggled to match the form of his teammate, Max Verstappen, who is on track for a fourth consecutive World Championship.
A challenging decision to stay at Red Bull
In an exclusive interview with GQ, Perez opened up about the decision to stay at Red Bull amid mounting pressure. "I had an opportunity, two opportunities, to change teams," Perez said, though he declined to reveal the names of the teams that approached him. "When I looked at it, I thought, I really love the challenge I have at Red Bull."
The Mexican driver acknowledged the difficulty of being Verstappen's teammate, a role that has put him under intense scrutiny given Verstappen's dominance in recent seasons.
Perez emphasized the value of the challenge, adding, "It's a massive challenge being Max's teammate. It's a challenge that basically trains you for all of it. 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."
The weight of criticism and rumours
Despite his commitment to the team, Perez’s form has come under scrutiny this season. He currently sits eighth in the Drivers' Championship, with just 48 points from the last 15 races, as Verstappen closes in on another title. The team has also dropped to third in the Constructors' standings, trailing Ferrari and McLaren.
Team principal Christian Horner has openly criticized Perez’s performance, with growing speculation about a potential replacement for the 34-year-old. Young drivers like Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto have been mentioned in connection with Red Bull’s plans.
However, Perez says he’s not fazed by the rumours and criticism that come with being an F1 driver. "It's how the sport is," he explained. "You have one, two bad races, a lot of negative talk about you and so on. 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."
Reflecting on his career amidst the pressure
Despite not securing a win this season and his most recent podium finish coming in April in China, Perez remains focused on the bigger picture. With just three races left in the current season, Perez sees himself 39 points behind Lewis Hamilton and 41 behind George Russell in the championship standings. Red Bull, meanwhile, is 13 points adrift of Ferrari and 49 behind McLaren in the Constructors' standings.
Reflecting on the challenges, Perez said, "At the end of the day, when you go through a difficult period, there is a lot of talk. But ultimately, there is 90 percent of the grid who would have loved to have my career."
The veteran driver admitted that F1 can be brutal but stressed that the focus is always on the future. "When you are a driver, you only think about the next race, the next challenge, the next category, the next contract. It's always about next, next, next. Sometimes it's good to step back out of it and remember how far you've gone. It's a very brutal sport."
