Ex-F1 driver pinpoints moment that triggered Sergio Perez downfall
Juan Pablo Montoya revealed the 'tipping point' for Sergio Perez in the 2024 season, which led to Sergio Perez's Red Bull exit.
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Sergio Perez (image via Planetf1)
Sergio Perez‘s woeful performances in the 2024 season with Red Bull caused him to leave the team. The issues with the RB20 further exaggerated Perez’s struggles with the team. Ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya pinpointed the moments that inevitably led to the Mexican’s exit.
Sergio Perez could only score a handful of podiums in the 2024 season as compared to Max Verstappen‘s nine victories. The Mexican came close to grabbing a podium after a stellar drive at the 2024 Azerbaijan GP . However, the race turned to disaster after a late-race collision with Carlos Sainz.
Juan Pablo Montoya reckoned that this blunder ultimately led to Red Bull’s decision to replace Perez. Montoya believed that the story would’ve been far different had the 34-year-old scored a podium finish in Baku. The 49-year-old noted that all the hard work from the Mexican over the race was overshadowed by his collision with Sainz.
If you look at what happened to Checo, if Checo had ended on the podium in Baku, suddenly the story would have changed. But he didn’t end on the podium, it was a crash with Carlos Sainz at the end, and all the time that Checo took [catching the race leaders] disappeared. It was like everything disappeared.
Juan Pablo Montoya told AS Colombian
Juan Pablo Montoya asserts Sergio Perez’s Red Bull exit ‘not so friendly’
Sergio Perez was likely to be axed by Red Bull before the 2025 season had he not decided to part ways. Juan Pablo Montoya revealed that based on the rumors he heard, the situation wasn’t so friendly for Perez. The 49-year-old also guessed that the potential break clause amount must’ve had been ‘very high’ to convince Checo to leave Milton Keynes.
I imagine that the number had to be very high to convince him. What I heard from gossip is that [his exit] was not so friendly.
Juan Pablo Montoya noted
Regardless of a disappointing end to Perez’s career, he still might have a last resort of an option with General Motors in 2026. However, the 34-year-old might be unwilling to return to Formula 1 and focus on other options in his life. The Mexican, due to his strong financial backing might try his hands at other categories of motorsport.
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Aditya Pandya
(1526 Articles Published)