Red Bull and Sergio Perez's F1 split: How it happened and what's next

Sergio Perez's exit from Red Bull's Formula 1 team is now official - just months on from the team handing him a new contract until the end of 2026.

Glenn Freeman and Scott Mitchell-Malm explain what's gone so wrong for Sergio Perez as well as discussing what's next for Red Bull and its troublesome driver strategy.

00:00 Perez is out
02:40 Unfortunate timing
05:31 What doomed Perez
08:05 Tsunoda overlooked (again)
10:28 Lawson's huge challenge
12:54 Red Bull driver course correction

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#formula1 #formulaone #f12024 #f12025 #sergioperez #perez #redbullf1 #formula1driver #perezdropped #perezsacked #f1news #redbullperez #therace

[FabledGentleman]

They are absolutely mad if that new contract came without a performance clause.

[Sebastianraikkonen_actualname]

How quick sport moves on:

2020: How does he not have a seat? Disgusting
2021: Mexican minister of defence! Incredible!
2022: You did good Checo
2023: Checo?
2024: Wait he's still on the grid? How?

[slipstream]

Get Yuki in there to end the debate. he fails redbull can bin him off completely. He succeeds. Great.

[FabledGentleman]

4:07 lmao, the shade on Stroll is glorious. 🤣

[shmazy]

Even casuals knew it was a terrible decision to resign Perez when they did. Then they had another opportunity to cut there losses and replace him mid season and choked again. Redbulls driver management has been atrocious since Ricciardo left.

[buggen]

They promoted Gasly, Albon, Perez, brought back a washed upp Danny Ric and now bringing in Lawson. Everyone but Sainz...

[arg_]

Good luck Lawson, hopefully you don't turn into Gasly/Albon 2.0 with all the pressure at Redbull. Its crazy this cycle started way back in 2018 after Daniel left.

[itsmrmilo]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Perez saw something like this coming and used his new contract to secure generational wealth rather than retire

[chocolocojames]

Being a second Red bull driver feels like a curse more than a blessing.

[FintanBarnett]

Even casuals realized it was a bad idea to resign Perez when they did. Then they had another chance to trim their losses and replace him midseason, but they failed again. Since Ricciardo's departure, Red Bull's driver management has been horrible.

[bsnyd]

It’s crazier to me that Kimi Antonelli is going straight into a Mercedes drive than Lawson potentially going to RBR. At least Liam has F1 experience. Its the “Piastri Effect”

[TheRebuttal-eh]

This is the most reckless contract I think I’ve ever seen in F1. The team did absolutely nothing to cover themselves and gave everything to the driver. Heck even Lewis is contracted till the 31st of this month and can’t dawn anything Ferrari till after that date. I don’t get it.

[lennarthaagen]

The fact that Lawson will be driving a red bull while Carlos Sainz is sitting at Williams 🥲

[AmsterdamHeavy]

How? You dont score points. You cost the team a WCC. Thats how.

[myoldreteacher]

Lawson seems to channel any aggression he has into his racing. Yuki has often channeled his aggression into the team.

[JamesMullarneyIsAFraud]

I know for a fact that the crash with Sainz at Baku was the straw that broke the camels back. Mate works and RB and he said the bosses absolutely furious with that one.

[omg_RANCORS]

i feel bad for Yuki. he earned his drive.

[grumpsisinthehouse]

Bottas for FIA President if he doesn't get the Red Bull drive..!!

[christopher]

7:11 Uhhh Webber did seriously contend for (and lead) a championship which is something Perez never got close to

[volleyballurrrr]

Before Honda “left”, people talked about how Yuki was more or less a Honda driver, that they wanted a Japanese driver in one of the cars. I do wonder, despite the seemingly amicable departure of Honda, if RB is somewhat embittered toward Yuki as being emblematic of that relationship, which I’m sure cost the team dearly to try and save. Especially since all of RB’s success inspired Honda to return only after the door had closed between them and RB. I’m not saying whether or not this is righteous, I’m just saying that I find it odd not to hear more discussion about the politics between Red Bull, Honda, and Tsunoda.