SEATTLE - After months of reports and talks about a contract extension, Oracle Red Bull Racing and Sergio 'Checo' Pérez announced a new contract extension for the Mexican driver that will keep him in the team until at least 2026.
The two-year deal will take 'Checo' to a total of six seasons with Red Bull, but there are likely to be performance clauses that could be triggered at the end of next year. He used his social media accounts to share a video with his fans to celebrate the news.
After a long consideration of all the options currently in the market, Red Bull believed that the Mexican possesses the all-round package they need to pair up with three-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Since joining Red Bull ahead of the 2021 season, 'Checo' has enjoyed his best years as a Formula 1 driver, finishing the 2023 season in second place in the Drivers' Championship. With Verstappen winning yet another title in 2023, it was the first time that Red Bull had achieved a one-two finish in the Championship.
The Mexican has five race wins with Red Bull, 29 podium finishes and three pole positions, including a first pole position for a Mexican driver in Formula 1 history. Pérez contributed big time to Red Bull's Constructors' World Championships since 2021, finishing with 305 points in 2022 and with 285 in 2023 to give Red Bull their first one-two finish.
Since starting his Formula 1 career in 2011, Pérez has entered in 269 races, good enough to rank ninth all-time. 'Checo' has made a name for himself as the most successful F1 driver in the history of Mexico with more than 10 years of experience. Five of his six career F1 wins have come with Red Bull.
"I am really happy to commit my future to this great team, it is a challenge like no other racing for Oracle Red Bull Racing, both on track and off track. I am delighted to be staying here to continue our journey together and contribute to this team's great history for two more years," Pérez said.
Grateful of continuing with one of the best teams in Formula 1, 'Checo' wanted to "thank everyone for all the trust they are putting in me, it is a lot and I want to pay it back with excellent results on track, and off track. I think we have a lot of work to do, we have a lot more Championships to win together."
The next stop for Pérez and the Formula 1 world will be the Canadian Grand Prix at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal.
After three negative races for Pérez' standards, the Mexican has been relegated to fifth place in the drivers' standings, 31 points way from Carlos Sainz Jr. in second place. 'Checo's' best result at the Canadian GP came in his second season in Formula 1 with Sauber, earning a third-place finish in 2012.
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