Perez speaks out: 'Great if I can end career at Red Bull'

Sergio Perez's position at Red Bull Racing has been much talked about in recent weeks. The Mexican's contract still runs through 2024, but his performance has been so disappointing that public opinion has wondered aloud whether his position is tenable. Perez's seat for 2024 does not seem to be in danger (anymore) and he even seems to be hoping for a contract extension.

Max Verstappen won his second world title in Japan last year. This year, he will not already succeed at the Suzuka circuit, but his team Red Bull Racing can secure the constructors' title. Mercedes has twice as few points as Red Bull, namely 'only' 289 points. Verstappen already collected 374 points on his own.

Perez not yet finished at Red Bull

Perez's contribution is less than you might expect. A poor period just before the summer break is mainly to blame. The 33-year-old driver has since managed to recover reasonably well and looks set to be a teammate of Max Verstappen next year as well. And maybe in 2025 too, at least that is what he himself hopes for.

When De Limburger asks Perez what it is like to be a Red Bull driver, he replies,"I am grateful to Red Bull for giving me the chance to race for a top team. After all, I am a driver who is not from their own training programme. It would be great if I can finish my career here." Perez will be 34 years old when his current contract expires at the Austrian formation, so he does not seem to be planning to quit just yet.

'Heavy' as Verstappen's teammate

Still, he calls being a driver at Red Bull "not easy". "Red Bull Racing operates in a different way than most teams. But that is also why they are so successful. In my view, their car is built from a different approach to the other teams. It takes time to get used to that. And, of course, you have to deal with Max Verstappen as a teammate. The past has proven that that is no easy task. Few drivers can handle that pressure. I sometimes call it: the toughest job in Formula 1."