Perez and Red Bull open contract talks sometime 'coming weeks'

Perez started the season with two podium finishes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. In the first two races of the season, he only had to beat teammate Max Verstappen. A fifth place followed in Australia, partly due to a three-place grid penalty he received after qualifying. After three Grands Prix, the veteran holds third place in the world championship, with five points less than World Championship leader Verstappen.

"Well, I think we're taking it as it comes as we're just starting the year, and we want to give probably a race more, and then we will start to talk. I think we are in a good situation at the moment, and we will see how things unfold in the coming weeks," said Perez, whose contract expires after this season.

Helmut Marko has repeatedly indicated that if Perez continues to finish smartly behind Verstappen - and he improves some more in qualifying - there is little reason for Red Bull Racing to make changes to the line-up in 2025. Daniel Ricciardo is currently not a serious candidate for Red Bull anyway, whereas Yuki Tsunoda might yet become one.

Perez contract length

What Red Bull will definitely be taking into account with contract negotiations is Liam Lawson. There is a chance that he will debut in Formula 1 next year at sister team Visa Cash App RB and, if he does so creditably, Marko may want the youngster in Red Bull as early as 2026. For Perez, that would mean that only a one-year contract extension might be in the offing.

However, the six-time Grand Prix winner himself will be aiming for a multi-year commitment, just like the two years he added when he signed a new commitment in May 2022. In the negotiations, contract length is likely to be one of the main points.