Horner: Perez chose to step away from F1 for sabbatical year
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Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has revealed that Sergio Perez's departure from the team for the 2025 season was a personal decision made by the Mexican driver, who has opted to take a sabbatical from Formula 1.
Despite Perez's earlier insistence that he would remain with Red Bull next season, mounting speculation in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign hinted at an impending change.
After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Perez acknowledged that critical discussions with the team would take place, and on Wednesday, Red Bull announced that Perez would not be returning for the 2025 season.
However, Horner clarified that the decision to step away was ultimately Perez's.
"It's been a culmination of things," Horner told ESPN. "Checo started the season so strongly, four podiums out of five races. It felt like he'd taken off where he left off last year.
"But then really from Monte Carlo, that race onwards, it has been a very tough year for him and we've tried everything with him and supporting him.
"Basically he has come to his own conclusion that I think that now is the right time to step away from Formula 1 to take a bit of time out."
Speaking to Sky Sports, Horner praised Perez for his contributions during his tenure with Red Bull, which began in 2021.
"It's been a tough year for him," Horner reiterated. "But he's a great person, and of course, played such a key role in the '21 Drivers' Championship, '22 and '23 Constructors'.
"He was second in the Drivers' World Championship last year. He's won five Grands Prix in our cars.
"He reflected after the season, and we sat down and discussed it last week about what are the next steps.
"He's decided that he's going to take a bit of time out, take a sabbatical from Formula 1, essentially."
Horner suggested that Perez's decision to take a break is an opportunity for him to recharge and evaluate his future, both within F1 and potentially in other racing disciplines.
"I think the thing for Checo is to take a bit of time out, spend it with his family," said the Briton.
"He has been on the treadmill for a long time now and [needs to] work out whether he wants to keep going in Formula 1 or maybe look at other categories, maybe sports cars or something along those lines.
"But I think foremost and utmost, he needs to take some time out and see how much he misses driving a grand prix car, and then only he can decide what he wants for the future."
While Perez will no longer race for Red Bull, Horner confirmed that he will remain involved with the team and the broader Red Bull brand, contrary to what was initially suggested.
"He'll still be involved with the brand and the team," Horner disclosed. "But he's made the agreement to step back from driving duties moving forward."
On Thursday, Red Bull confirmed that 21-year-old Liam Lawson has been promoted from RB to Red Bull Racing where he will race in 2025 alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
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