After the Singapore Grand Prix, they started to circulate insistently in the paddock items on a possible imminent retirement of Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver, coming off a disappointing race in which he finished only tenth, was at the centre of much speculation that he was ready to announce his farewell to Formula 1 during the Mexican Grand Prix, in front of his home crowd. However, Perez responded in a surprising and ironic way, quoting a scene from the film The Wolf of Wall Street.
Retreat to Mexico? Sergio Perez's response arrives
Through a story about Instagram, Perez posted a famous scene from the film in which Leonardo DiCaprio, in the lead role, exclaims “I'm not leaving.” Accompanied by smiley emoticons and the caption “Sorry,” the Mexican made it clear in a funny and decisive way that he has no intention of retiring, thus denying the rumors. The post quickly went viral, entertaining fans and temporarily silencing rumors of an imminent farewell.
Speculation about Sergio Perez's retirement had intensified especially after the Singapore Grand Prix, but it was the result of a series of disappointing performances. From sixth place in Zandvoort to eighth in Monza, to his retirement at the Baku Grand Prix, where an incident with Carlos Sainz denied him the chance to fight for the podium, Perez had a difficult season. A tenth place in Singapore further fueled the criticism, leading many to speculate that Perez could announce his retirement at the Mexican Grand Prix on October 27, in front of his home fans. In this context, speculation had already begun about his possible replacements, with Oscar Piastri and George Russell among the most discussed names in the paddock.
Red Bull, no victories and lost leadership in constructors
Despite Perez's denial, his future at Red Bull remains uncertain. The Austrian team, despite dominating the drivers' championship with Max Verstappen, has not won a race since June, and Perez's performances have not lived up to expectations in the constructors' championship, which now sees McLaren in the lead. This decline in performance, combined with the departure of key technical figures such as Adrian Newey, has contributed to creating a situation of increasing pressure on the team and especially Perez. While Verstappen at least manages to limit the damage by bringing a difficult-to-manage car to second place, Perez's contribution is almost non-existent.
Red Bull has a long history of making drastic decisions when drivers fail to meet expectations, and with young talents like Piastri coming through, Perez will have to prove he deserves his place, despite his contract with the team until 2025. The pressure is on, and his position, while contractually guaranteed and with the important sponsors he brings, could be reevaluated in the future.
The next races as a test bench
The Mexican Grand Prix will be a particularly important test. Perez will not only have to impress the home crowd but also take control of the situation by helping Verstappen bring home the constructors' title, as Red Bull has done in the last two years. Only solid results will allow Perez to consolidate his position within the team and guarantee the team's confidence for the future.
