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Sergio Perez’s ‘Max Verstappen contract clause' didn’t stop new Red Bull deal

05 June 2024 , 07:25
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Red Bull have committed to a driver line-up of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen until 2026. (Image: Getty Images)
Red Bull have committed to a driver line-up of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen until 2026. (Image: Getty Images)

Sergio Perez has signed a new deal with Red Bull despite a ' Max Verstappen contract clause' threatening to slash his wages.

The F1 star pledged his future to the Milton Keynes behemoth until at least 2026 following months of speculation over his future. That's despite reports of a stipulation in his previous contract that gave Red Bull the power to lower his salary if he failed to keep pace with team-mate Verstappen.

According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, the bar was set at 125 points, and after finishing a whopping 290 points behind the champion, who broke his own record by amassing a monstrous total of 575 last season, Perez, who finished second, was technically in line for a pay review.

But it's unclear whether the clause was actually triggered, and given that the Mexican, 34, has now agreed to a contract extension, it looks as if it was left untouched. Perez's previous deal was set to expire at the end of the 2024 season, but he's agreed to stay put until the end of the 2026 campaign.

Upon announcing his extension on Tuesday (June 4), he said he was "delighted" to be tied to the constructor, adding he felt they had "a lot more championships to win together”.

Inside the driver call which upset Red Bull and changed the course of F1 history eidekiqtiqrtprwInside the driver call which upset Red Bull and changed the course of F1 history

The decision to keep Perez around may have stemmed from the fact he's managed to close the gap between himself and Verstappen to just 62 points. The Dutchman is leading the way on 169 but actually looks as if he could face some serious competition this season.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is just 31 points behind in second, while McLaren's Lando Norris is 25 points further back in third. Leclerc's team-mate Carlos Sainz is fourth on 108 points and Perez is a place behind him on 107.

Perez is yet to top the podium this season but he has sealed three second-place finishes - all behind Verstappen. His form has tailed off in the past few weeks, with a fourth-place finish in Miami being followed by an eighth-place placing at Imola last month. He was then forced to retire on Lap 1 of the Monaco Grand Prix after crashing into Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.

Sergio Perez’s ‘Max Verstappen contract clause' didn’t stop new Red Bull dealSergio Perez's has closed the gap on team-mate Max Verstappen this season (Getty Images)

Speaking around the time the revelation regarding his last contract came to light, Perez conceded his performances needed to improve. "It’s in my hands, that’s why I am focused on myself – I am the first one," he told reporters in August 2023. "I am a winner. I don’t like to have bad weekends. It’s not what I am here for. I would rather be at home doing something else.

"I’m here because I know that I can do it. I’ve done it before and people just on the sofa forget how we have [little breathing space]. I’ve had a rough patch, it’s true, but I also had a great start to the season."

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Harry Brent

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