Perez: 'Nonsense' to start thinking about 2025 prospects

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Sergio Perez says it would be utter "nonsense" for him to cast a thought on his prospects for 2025 or on those, like Daniel Ricciardo, who ambition to take his seat at Red Bull.

Ahead of his return to the F1 grid this weekend in Hungary with AlphaTauri, Ricciardo suggested that his drive with the Faenza-based squad, if successful, could pave the way for a return to Red Bull Racing.

But Perez, who is contracted to the Milton Keynes-based outfit until the end of 2024, says the Aussie's opportunity to regain a footing in F1 changes nothing as far as his own situation is concerned.

"From my side, it doesn't change anything, because like I’ve said, I drive for Red Bull," said Perez on Thursday in Hungary.

"There's not just Daniel out there, it's Yuki [Tsunoda], more than half of the grid will love to drive for Red Bull. So it doesn't change anything.

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"I've been in F1 for 13 years so I'm not a guy that any more thinks so much further ahead.

“I've been with the engineers, so to be honest, I haven't even had the time to discuss what's going on with Daniel. I think it's a great opportunity for him. And that's it.

"I'm focusing on Hungary and then in Belgium, I'm not really thinking about 2025, it's so far ahead. It's nonsense to think that far away."

Perez is looking to turn around his fortunes as soon as this weekend in Hungary after a dismal period of under-performance during which his chances to challenge Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen for the world title were irreversibly compromised.

The Mexican's poor run of form triggered speculation that Red Bull could prematurely terminate Perez current contract. However, both RBR team boss Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have ruled out such a probability.

"I think when you look at those bad qualifyings, there’s always been a different situation, external situation, that we haven’t dealt as good as we should have dealt with them," Perez argued.

"There’s always been some external factor. It hasn’t been pure pace, put it that way."

Perez admitted that he alone likely holds the key to his future.

"It's in my hands, correct," he said. "I am the first one, I'm a winner, I don't like having bad weekends, it's not what I'm here for. I would rather be at home doing something else.

"I'm here because I know that I can do it, I've done it before. People just on the sofa forget how much in the little details we are. You've seen it with other drivers, other teams.

"They've had different difficult periods but then they don't have 20 replacements after each session like they do with the Red Bull drivers."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.