The arrival of Sergio Perez in Red Bull was considered the most logical operation in the paddock in the interest of both sides, but in Formula 1 a reasonable choice should not be taken for granted.
This time, however, the more rational criterion really prevailed and Checo Perez will be at the start of the next World Cup alongside Max Verstappen. The official announcement is expected today, and should be a contract for a season with an option for 2022 in favor of the team.
Perez’s story is therefore a happy ending, the only script that the Mexican would have accepted to stay in Formula 1.
The news of Perez’s engagement began to leak in the late afternoon yesterday, then in the evening the Speedweek website (which is part of the Red Bull media platform) reported verbatim: “everything indicates that Sergio Pérez will be presented as the new driver of the Red Bull Racing on December 18th ”.
“I only consider one option – Checo had repeated several times between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi – I have been in Formula 1 for many years and I think I am at the peak of my career. I want to go on, and certainly not stay on track for signing honor ”. The option was obviously Red Bull, and after painful weeks waiting for the final phone call, Perez finally received the okay from Helmut Marko, Christian Horner and Dieter Mateschitz.
After ten seasons in Formula 1 (Sauber 2011/12, McLaren 2013 and Force India / Racing Point from 2014 to 2020) Perez enters a team with great ambitions for the first time, and he does so after going through very tough weeks, in which his stay in Formula 1 was at risk.
The victory obtained in the Sakhir Grand Prix was crucial to Red Bull’s decision, even if the Mexican is already in double row under the heading of ‘podiums’ having finished on ten occasions in the top-3.
The success achieved by Perez in Bahrain has been a source of great interest in Mexico, and even Liberty Media can only welcome the agreement between Checo and Red Bull, considering the effects it will have on the Mexican Grand Prix, for years already the weekend with the largest number of spectators on the track over the three days.
After 38 Grands Prix (12 with Toro Rosso and 26 with Red Bull) Alexander Albon returns to the bench. The signs of recovery confirmed in the last races of the World Championship just ended were not enough to convince Marko and Horner that they deserve another opportunity, and for now Albon will play the role of third driver, both for Red Bull and Alpha Tauri.
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