Why Perez is ‘at peace’ with himself - even if he misses out on 2021 F1 seat

Sergio Perez has admitted facing a year out of Formula 1 is a real prospect for him in 2021, yet he remains at “peace” within himself with his future up in the air at such a late stage in the year. 

After being unceremoniously dumped by Racing Point for 2021 in favour of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, Perez’s last realistic hope of remaining in F1 appears to rest on Red Bull, which is evaluating whether to stick with Alex Albon, or find an alternative, more experienced driver to partner Max Verstappen in its 2021 line-up. 

Addressing the media ahead of this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix, Perez conceded he had “nothing” new to share about his future as the season ticks on into November with just four races remaining. 

"At the moment we will just have to wait and see,” Perez said. “The season is coming soon to an end so as I said before until the teams don’t announce a driver, then everything is an option. Every team that hasn’t announced their line up is an option so we will see.

“Everything is so late now and it looks like I will know whether I continue in Formula 1 or not quite late in the year so I think a sabbatical - it’s an option. We will see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”

Although Perez insisted that “everything” remains open for 2021, in reality, the Mexican’s options are narrowing by the day. 

Assuming Mercedes is out of the equation with Lewis Hamilton expected to continue with the team, of the seats that are yet to be confirmed at Red Bull, AlphaTauri and Haas, Red Bull is by far the best option Perez has available to him. That is not only because it is the most competitive seat going, but also because it is the door that has the highest likelihood of opening for him. 

While it is not a surprise that Perez is holding out for the prospect of a Red Bull drive, it leaves him vulnerable to missing out on a seat altogether given the Milton Keynes outfit is in no rush to decide upon its line-up for next season. 

Should Red Bull opt to replace Albon, it also has another free agent alternative in the shape of Nico Hulkenberg, who is understood to be the team’s preferred choice in the event of that scenario occurring. 

Although it would seem a great injustice for Perez to be left without a drive next year, he stressed he would go out with his head held high. 

"Is it an injustice on missing out? I think it’s part of F1,” he explained. “I always knew this is how it is. I can call myself privileged. I’ve had a great career, ten years in F1 up until now. 

“If that was the case that I have to leave the sport I can leave with a lot of pride because I’ve delivered with the material I’ve had and not many people can have such a career. We will see what happens but I am at peace with myself.” 

Perez has every reason to be happy with his performances in 2020. He is the only driver barring Hamilton to have scored points in every race he has contested this year - and it is that level of consistency that sees Perez hold sixth place in the drivers’ championship, despite missing two races due to contracting COVID-19. 

While Perez is ultimately satisfied with his form this season, the 30-year-old has been left with the feeling that he could have had even more success, having lost likely podiums at the Red Bull Ring and Imola.

“I think it’s been a year of lost opportunities, in a way,” Perez said. "We lost a podium in Austria where we were already running third, and we made the wrong call at the time. We had the same last weekend in Imola so two podiums lost plus all the other aspects.

“We’ve had an up and down season; the virus, I lost two races, I think the car was at its strongest point at probably our best track – Silverstone was at the time our best track – and we had the most competitive car.

“So, it’s been a bit [of an] unlucky year but I still feel that things will turn around and we can make this season a great one.” 

Perez has improved drastically from the driver who joined McLaren in an ill-timed move back in 2013. He has steadily built up his reputation as one of the strongest and most consistent drivers in F1’s midfield since arriving at the then-Force India squad and is now undoubtedly one of the most capable racers in the championship. 

And Perez feels his McLaren experience has ultimately helped shape him into the driver he is today, and is confident he would be better equipped to take on a front-running drive at the sharp end of the grid. 

“I think I learned a huge amount there [at McLaren],” he explained. “Going there, things didn’t work. Being seven years with a different team, being in the sport, the level of matureness, the level of knowledge, experience - I am such a different driver. 

“I am definitely much more ready to make it work than last time.” 

The best Perez can do now is continue to turn in the type of displays that will keep him noticed by potential suitors in the four races he has left to impress in his seemingly-fading attempts to earn a deserved drive.