Sakhir Grand Prix – Bahrain Intercontinental Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – December 6, 2020 Racing Point’s Sergio Perez celebrates just after winning the race
Mexican Sergio Perez will replace Alexander Albon at Purple Bull next season as the former Method 1 champions set their sights on supplying dominant rivals Mercedes a operate for their income.
The thirty-12 months-aged Perez, a winner for Racing Issue in Bahrain this thirty day period, will slot in alongside Dutchman Max Verstappen with Albon relegated to the part of take a look at and reserve driver.
“We want to industry the strongest team we can to choose the combat to Mercedes,” reported team manager Christian Horner whose team completed 2nd in the in general standings winning two of this season’s seventeen races compared to champions Mercedes’ thirteen.
“Sergio’s got the essential amount of experience, brings a prosperity of information to the team as properly and I assume will be a fantastic team mate for Max next 12 months.”
Perez has misplaced his seat for next 12 months at Racing Issue, who will contend as Aston Martin, to 4-occasions winner Sebastian Vettel and the Mexican experienced indicated that he would choose a sabbatical in 2021 if he failed to land the Purple Bull generate.
The move hands him a 2nd shot at a top seat just after he expended a season at McLaren as Lewis Hamilton’s substitute when the Briton left for Mercedes in 2013.
It will make him the 1st driver exterior Purple Bull’s younger driver enhancement program to race for the team given that Mark Webber retired at the conclude of that 12 months.
‘EARNED THE SEAT’
“It’s extremely hard to overlook Sergio’s effectiveness this 12 months,” reported Horner. “He’s earned the seat.”
Perez, who brings substantial backing from Mexico and manufactured his F1 debut with Sauber in 2011, completed fourth in the in general standings powering Verstappen in spite of missing two races due to COVID-19.
He took two podiums, together with his Sakhir Grand Prix acquire, in 2020 to convey his occupation tally to 10 rostrum finishes from 191 starts off.
The only Latin American driver in the activity and the 1st Mexican to acquire in F1 for 50 decades, Perez has expended the last 7 seasons at Racing Issue, owning joined the team when it was nevertheless Force India.
He was instrumental in securing the funds-strapped team’s upcoming in 2018 when it was bought out of administration by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, whose son Lance races the outfit’s other car.
ALBON Identified
Horner, who fielded Perez as an up and coming younger driver in his GP2 team, reported that with the Mexican Purple Bull would have a much better chance of having the combat to Mercedes with both equally of their cars.
This 12 months Verstappen was more frequently than not left to choose the combat to the German team’s two cars by himself.
As for Albon, who completed seventh in the standings degree with McLaren’s Ferrari-sure Spaniard Carlos Sainz, Horner reported the 24-12 months-aged was identified to discover his way again to a race seat.
“We will see how situations unfold for 2022 possibly within Purple Bull or external of Purple Bull,” reported Horner.
Perez’s Purple Bull confirmation leaves only Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes seat in perform.
But the 35-12 months-aged, who wrapped up a record-equalling seventh environment title this season, is expected to remain with Mercedes.
(Reporting by Abhishek Takle modifying by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)
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