Sergio Perez says he’s open to returning to System 1 in 2026 however will solely achieve this if he feels it’s the fitting undertaking for him.
Crimson Bull opted to finish Perez’s contract two years early over the winter, following a disappointing 2024 season alongside Max Verstappen. The Mexican stated he has been sounded out by a number of constructors and RACER understands Cadillac is one staff that has proven an curiosity in his companies when it enters F1 subsequent 12 months.
“If I discover a undertaking that motivates me absolutely to come back again, the place the staff consider in me and the place they recognize my profession, my expertise and every little thing I can convey to a staff, it could be very enticing to contemplate it,” Perez informed F1.com. “That’s why I’ve given myself no less than six months to get all my choices on the desk and decide on what I do subsequent with my profession.
“There are a number of very attention-grabbing tasks on the market. I’ve been approached by a number of groups since Abu Dhabi. Proper now, the season has began so a number of issues will open up within the coming months.
“We’re speaking to a couple events on the market. As soon as I do know all my choices, I’ll decide. What may be very clear to me is that I’m solely coming again if the undertaking is smart, and it’s one thing I can take pleasure in.
“I’ve spent a very long time in F1 already — I’ve accomplished most of it. When you step again, you notice how a lot you surrender in life to be within the sport. So, to be in F1 absolutely dedicated, I would like the motivation.
“It’s good to be on this place realizing that persons are eager on you as a driver. Individuals have brief reminiscences in F1. Inside a few races, they neglect what you could have accomplished. Individuals notice that my place was not the best one in F1 — and I’ve accomplished extraordinarily properly general.
With Crimson Bull making a driver change after simply two races of this season and swapping Perez’s substitute Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda, the 35-year-old says the scenario is reminding individuals of the tough automobile he was coping with in recent times.
“Particularly final 12 months, I didn’t get to point out what I’m capable of do as a driver. Now, unexpectedly, individuals notice how tough the automobile is to drive,” he stated. “Once I joined Crimson Bull, there had been nice drivers who had struggled – Alex [Albon], Pierre [Gasly], they’re incredible drivers they usually struggled.
“I spent so lengthy in Crimson Bull that everybody forgot how tough the automobile is to drive, in order that was tough. I really feel like that if there’s a undertaking that is smart to me – and likewise with the laws altering for 2026 – I really feel like taking a 12 months out received’t have any affect if I had been to come back again.”
Though Lawson’s struggles spotlight how robust the scenario inside Crimson Bull is to deal with, Perez insists he desires to see Tsunoda do properly now he’s making the step up from Racing Bulls.
“I really need the staff to do properly, as I’ve quite a lot of buddies on the staff,” Perez stated. “I spent 4 years with them and I need to see them doing properly. It’s only a very arduous factor to speak about. Proper now, I’m on the surface — I’ve been in contact with some staff members there however once you’re not there internally, it’s arduous to know [what’s happening].
“For me, it was quite simple — the automobile is simply fairly tough to get 100% out of it, to get the boldness out of it — and the issues I struggled with, even Adrian [Newey, the team’s former design chief] talked about them. However I need to want them the most effective. Woody [Richard Wood], who is a superb pal of mine, is engineering Yuki now so I actually hope they do properly.
“Yuki has the expertise, has the pace and, greater than that, you want the mentality to deal with it. I feel he has the fitting mentality and the fitting angle to deal with it. I hope they’ll succeed.”
