Perez gets Red Bull contract extension for 2022 F1 season
The Mexican was chosen to replace Alex Albon and become Max Verstappen’s new teammate for this year and has impressed Red Bull during his first half-season at Milton Keynes.
Although Perez has struggled to match the performances of title contender Verstappen, he has done enough to persuade Red Bull to retain him for a second campaign after helping the team in its championship battle against Mercedes.
Perez picked up the pieces after Verstappen suffered a tyre failure while leading to claim his first Red Bull victory - and second win of his career - in Baku, which he followed up with a third-place finish in France.
The 31-year-old has not been on the podium since Paul Ricard and sits fifth in the championship after the opening 11 races on 104 points, 83 fewer than Verstappen has scored.
“I’m really happy to be continuing with a great team like Red Bull into the new era of Formula 1 and it’s a great opportunity for me," said Perez. "Everyone starts from zero next year with the new regulations, so my only goal is to go all the way to the top with Red Bull.
"It always takes time to get on top of everything when you join a new team but things have worked well this season and I really enjoy being a part of the Red Bull family. We’ve been working hard to deliver results so it’s great to see the team have faith in me for the future.
"We have so much more to achieve together and we still have a great challenge on our hands this season so I really hope we can finish the year on a high and carry that momentum into 2022. I want to thank all my supporters around the world and especially those in Mexico.
"From my sponsors to my fans, they have been so enthusiastic since I joined Red Bull so I really hope we can reward them by reaching the top and winning the title.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: “Checo is a highly respected Team member and his experience and race-craft are invaluable as we fight for the constructors’ championship. His integration into the wider team has been seamless and we have been impressed by his performances during the first half of the season which demonstrate what he’s capable of in our car.
"Next year we move into a new era of Formula 1 with completely revised regulations and cars, and with over 200 races and a decade of experience under his belt, Checo will play an integral role in helping the team navigate this transition and maximise the RB18. Our current attention is on ending the 2021 season as strongly as possible and we look forward to seeing Checo build on a first successful season with the team.”
Confirmation of Perez’s continuation at Red Bull officially rules out the unlikely prospect of Pierre Gasly making a return to the senior team despite his impressive form for AlphaTauri.
Gasly, who found himself in a seat swap with Albon midway through the 2019 season, is set to remain at Red Bull’s sister team alongside F1 rookie Yuki Tsunoda.
AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost said on Friday he expects his side's line-up to be formally announced in September.
