Updated:
May 31, 2022 6:01 pmSergio Perez has now re-signed his contract with Red Bull taking his contract to the end of the 2024 season. The announcement followed Perez’s Monaco Grand Prix win where he reduced the gap between him and teammate Max Verstappen to 15 points.
Perez said: “This has been an incredible week. Winning the Monaco Grand Prix is a dream for any driver … announcing I will continue with the team until 2024 just makes me extremely happy.
“I am so proud to be a member of this team and I feel completely at home here.”
The 32-year-old won joined Red Bull at the end of 2020. Team boss Christian Horner said: “[It] was a no-brainer and we are delighted.
“Time and again he has proved himself to not only be a magnificent team player but as his level of comfort has grown he has become a real force to be reckoned with.”
Perez was heard joking to Horner that he had signed the contract too early given he had just won.
Embed from Getty ImagesPerez is currently third in the drivers’ world championship standings, he finished fourth last year. This season he has 110 points from seven races and claimed pole position in the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
In his career, he has racked up 1006 points since his debut with Sauber in 2011.
Perez highlighted that his strong relationship with Verstappen was a key part of his decision to re-sign with the team.
He said: “My relationship with Max, on and off the track, is definitely helping drive us forward even more.
“We have built tremendous momentum as a team and this season is showing that. I am excited to see where that can take us all in the future.”
The deal comes amid critical comments from Verstappen’s dad Jos. Jos states that Red Bull was “favouring” Perez at the Monaco Grand Prix.
In a blog post on Verstappen.com, he wrote “The championship leader, Max, was not helped in that sense by chosen strategy. It turned completely to Checo’s favour.” He then went on to say that “Red Bull achieved a good result, but at the same time exerted little influence to help Max to the front.”
Jos has expressed his disappointment although Max currently leads the driver’s championship by nine points ahead of Charles Leclerc and 15 ahead of Perez.
Despite his complaints, Jos went on to write “I do wish Checo the victory apart from all this. Winning in Monaco is of course something special.”
Perez re-signing with Red Bull however does close the door on the return of Pierre Gasly. Gasly was replaced partway through the 2019 season. Now for two more seasons, there is no space for the Frenchman who will have to make a decision on whether or not to join another team.
Perez has been considered a key team player in helping Verstappen secure last year’s title, he currently has four podiums and one pole position to his name in 2022.
