Red Bull are expected to confirm the departure of Sergio Perez before Christmas, according to a report.
The six-time race winner, who endured a miserable 2024 campaign, has been discussing his potential future role, with an ambassadorial position as well as severing ties altogether a possibility, the report claims.
Perez penned a two-year extension with the Austrian manufacturer in May this year but he has since finished eighth in the driver’s championship, 285 points behind his team-mate and champion Max Verstappen.
According to ESPN, the Mexican is now likely to leave the constructor and be replaced by Liam Lawson, who impressed in the second half of the season after coming in for Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull’s sister team Visa RB.
Ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand, Lawson, 22, said: ‘I think next week would be a time I’d expect to have some information.
‘What I’m focused on is having a seat. This weekend [Abu Dhabi] is my last chance to show that, and why I feel like I should be here.
Sergio Perez’s departure from Red Bull is expected to be confirmed before Christmas, according to a report
Red Bull missed out on the Constructor’s Championship because of the 34-year-old woeful form this season
Liam Lawson, who impressed with Visa RB, is expected to replace Perez at the Austrian manufacturer
‘I feel like I’ve made the most of each opportunity, but I definitely didn’t execute everything perfectly, and there’s stuff that I’ll learn from reflecting on these races.
‘I would say I definitely tried and gave my best at every opportunity. Every decision, whatever I did at the time felt like the best thing for me to do, but obviously you never do the perfect race.’
Meanwhile, Perez is all but guaranteed to be without a race seat in Formula One in 2025. Cutting ties with Red Bull entirely would free him up to race in other categories next season.
General Motors’ incoming Cadillac team, which has an agreement in principle to join the grid in 2026 as an 11th squad, could present an immediate route back for the Mexican driver.