Sebastian Vettel’s move to Aston Martin cost Sergio Perez his seat. The Mexican has opened up about his exit – and his unexpected path to Red Bull.
Sergio Perez has spoken about a decisive moment in his Formula 1 career. It was Sebastian Vettel, of all people, who indirectly forced the Mexican to leave his long-time team – and ultimately become Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull.
Perez raced for the Silverstone-based team from 2014 to 2020, initially under the Force India name and later for Racing Point. The Mexican had actually expected to remain part of the project in the long term as the team transitioned to Aston Martin.
But then Vettel became available on the driver market. Ferrari had already announced early on that it would not renew the four-time world champion’s contract beyond the 2020 season. Aston Martin seized the opportunity – and Perez had to give up his seat.
Perez: “There is no loyalty”
“It was difficult because I had a three-year contract with the team, obviously with the relevant options,” Perez recalled on the “High Performance” podcast.
The Mexican had high hopes for the project: “I really thought that I was going to be part of this project together with Lawrence and Lance. But then Sebastian became available.”
Perez could nevertheless understand the decision. “A four-time world champion became available and I understood how this sport works. I knew Lawrence would be very interested.”
The relevant option in Perez’s contract was not exercised, with the future Aston Martin team signing Vettel instead.
“That’s when I thought: ‘Look, there is no loyalty in this sport.’ But I didn’t take it personally,” Perez explained. He says he still has a good relationship with those in charge at Aston Martin to this day.
Suddenly, Red Bull came calling
Perez subsequently focused on his performances on track – and even claimed his first Grand Prix victory in Sakhir at the end of 2020. Shortly afterwards, the door at Red Bull unexpectedly opened.
“The only team I thought I would never try to join was Red Bull because they always have their own junior drivers,” Perez revealed.
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But that is exactly where he eventually ended up. From 2021, the Mexican became Verstappen’s teammate, won five more Grands Prix and helped Red Bull secure the Constructors’ World Championship in 2022 and 2023.
Without Vettel’s move to Aston Martin, it might never have happened. The German displaced Perez from his Silverstone seat – and indirectly paved the way for his move to Red Bull.
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