F1: Sergio Perez to replace Albon at Red Bull

Sakhir Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – December 6, 2020 Racing Point’s Sergio Perez celebrates right after successful the race

 

Mexican Sergio Perez will replace Alexander Albon at Pink Bull future period as the former Components One particular champions set their sights on giving dominant rivals Mercedes a operate for their funds.

The thirty-calendar year-outdated Perez, a winner for Racing Level in Bahrain this thirty day period, will slot in together with Dutchman Max Verstappen with Albon relegated to the role of check and reserve driver.

“We want to discipline the strongest group we can to choose the combat to Mercedes,” claimed group manager Christian Horner whose group finished next in the in general standings successful two of this season’s seventeen races as opposed to champions Mercedes’ thirteen.

“Sergio’s got the vital sum of working experience, provides a wealth of information to the group as properly and I imagine will be a superior group mate for Max future calendar year.”

Perez has misplaced his seat for future calendar year at Racing Level, who will contend as Aston Martin, to four-instances champion Sebastian Vettel and the Mexican experienced indicated that he would choose a sabbatical in 2021 if he failed to land the Pink Bull generate.

The move hands him a next shot at a prime seat right after he expended a period at McLaren as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement when the Briton remaining for Mercedes in 2013.

It can make him the first driver outdoors Pink Bull’s young driver progress system to race for the group because Mark Webber retired at the finish of that calendar year.

‘EARNED THE SEAT’

“It’s unachievable to dismiss Sergio’s effectiveness this calendar year,” claimed Horner. “He’s gained the seat.”

Perez, who provides substantial backing from Mexico and manufactured his F1 debut with Sauber in 2011, finished fourth in the in general standings guiding Verstappen irrespective of missing two races because of to COVID-19.

He took two podiums, which include his Sakhir Grand Prix acquire, in 2020 to carry his vocation tally to ten rostrum finishes from 191 commences.

The only Latin American driver in the sport and the first Mexican to acquire in F1 for 50 a long time, Perez has expended the past 7 seasons at Racing Level, having joined the group when it was however Pressure India.

He was instrumental in securing the hard cash-strapped team’s foreseeable future in 2018 when it was purchased out of administration by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, whose son Lance races the outfit’s other automobile.

ALBON Determined

Horner, who fielded Perez as an up and coming young driver in his GP2 group, claimed that with the Mexican Pink Bull would have a far better possibility of having the combat to Mercedes with both equally of their cars and trucks.

This calendar year Verstappen was much more typically than not remaining to choose the combat to the German team’s two cars and trucks by himself.

As for Albon, who finished seventh in the standings stage with McLaren’s Ferrari-bound Spaniard Carlos Sainz, Horner claimed the 24-calendar year-outdated was determined to locate his way back again to a race seat.

“We will see how conditions unfold for 2022 possibly inside of Pink Bull or exterior of Pink Bull,” claimed Horner.

Perez’s Pink Bull confirmation leaves only Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes seat in perform.

But the 35-calendar year-outdated, who wrapped up a history-equalling seventh entire world title this period, is envisioned to stay with Mercedes.

(Reporting by Abhishek Takle enhancing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)

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