Horner ruling creates question marks over length of Perez contract

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Is Horner hinting at clause in Perez's contract?
4 June at 17:42
  • Tim Kraaij

Sergio Perez has signed a two-year deal at Red Bull Racing. Yet Christian Horner speaks of confirming the line-up for 2025. Is there a clause in Perez's contract after all, or is the Red Bull Racing team principal referring to Max Verstappen?

"Sergio Perez will drive for Oracle Red Bull Racing until 2026," reads the headline above Red Bull Racing's press release. The introduction to the press release also talks about a two-year deal and Perez also talks about 'the next two years with the team'. However, one sentence in Horner's statement stands out.

"Now is an important time to confirm our line-up for 2025," Horner's statement reads. A remarkable statement, as everywhere else it reads that this is a two-year deal. These are press releases read by numerous people word for word, so it will not be a slip of the tongue. Horner deliberately chose the year 2025 and not 2025 AND 2026.

What kind of deal has Perez signed at Red Bull Racing?

Despite Perez's statements, there still seems to be a 1+1 deal. There was also talk of such a deal at Mercedes, which also stated about Lewis Hamilton that a contract had been signed up to 2025. In fact, both parties then appeared to have an option to part ways at the end of 2024, something Hamilton has gratefully taken advantage of.

Whereas Perez will hope to drive for Red Bull Racing in both 2025 and 2026, this way Red Bull are keeping their options open. Although Red Bull stresses that this is a two-year deal, there is no denying that the two-year deal consists of a 1+1 deal.

Yet there is also the possibility that Horner's statement is indicative of Max Verstappen's situation. The Dutchman has decided to stay with Red Bull Racing in 2025, but it is an open secret that Verstappen is considering his options for 2026. Mercedes and Toto Wolff are still hoping to convince Verstappen to make the switch. While Verstappen has a contract until 2028, various clauses would allow him to leave the team earlier.