Red Bull is hesitant to grant Sergio Perez’s request for a multi-year contract, even though they might give Alex Albon a happily ever after return to his former position.
With a great start to the new season, Perez has not harmed his prospects of obtaining a new contract. For the first four races, he has three podium finishes to his name, but his qualifying performance has much improved from 2023’s disastrous results.
Red Bull currently believes that Perez should lose the second seat, which is shared by Max Verstappen. With the best team in Formula One, the 34-year-old has propelled himself back into the running for a 2025 spot.
But apparently not until he gives in to one of his main demands from the contract. In order to guarantee his spot on the Formula One grid in 2026, the Mexican wants a multi-year contract, but Red Bull would rather leave the seat unoccupied for the long run.
Additionally, following Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, consultant Helmut Marko—who has a big say in who drives for Red Bull’s two F1 teams—explained why he is hesitant to give Perez the stability he desires. “If he has a secure contract for two years, there is a risk that he will slack off,” the Austrian politician stated.
The fact that Red Bull is considering the possibility of getting Albon back into the fold is another reason they are unwilling to offer Perez a 2026 contract. After the 2020 season, Perez took over for the British-Thai racer, who was left without a drive for the next season.
