Perez’s last competitive outing was during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2024, where he raced alongside the Red Bull Racing Team, the year’s Constructors and Drivers’ champions. The Mexican driver served commendably as Max Verstappen’s teammate, which left fans puzzled by his departure amid the team’s current struggles.

Conversely, Bottas remains with the Mercedes F1 Team, albeit as a reserve driver. The Finnish racer is eager for a fresh start after a decade in Formula 1, and with Cadillac’s entry next season, he aims to prove there’s more he can contribute to the sport and his professional trajectory.

Cadillac’s debut as a main team in Formula 1 marks a historic moment, having last participated as an engine supplier in 1952 and 1953. Their engines sadly failed to qualify back then, and their return has been long anticipated.

How many new F1 teams will there be in 2026?

In 2026, Formula 1 will feature 11 teams competing for the World Championship. Cadillac’s inclusion as the 11th team will be the sole new entry that year. Nonetheless, transformations abound, with Audi rebranding the current Sauber team as the Revolut Audi F1 Team.

Additionally, fresh dynamics in engine suppliers will emerge. Ford is set to return to Formula 1 through an alliance with Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Meanwhile, Honda will partner with Aston Martin in 2026, and Renault will exit the scene as an engine supplier for the first time since 2000.

How many new circuits will there be in 2026?

Enhancing the 2026 season, a new circuit in Spain will debut with Madrid launching a street race. This circuit will join the calendar without displacing the established Barcelona Grand Prix, but it will take the place of the historic Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit, which opted not to renew its contract.

These upcoming changes aim to engage new generations and ensure the sport’s future prosperity. The addition of a new team, engine suppliers, and a novel circuit collectively underscore Formula 1’s commitment to innovation and growth.

Williams interim driver Franco Colapinto is one of the most talked about rising talents in F1 this year. Despite having won points and impressed fans and experts, the Argentine driver doesn’t have a seat guaranteed for the upcoming season. However, new reports suggest that VCARB could be interested in him.

Journalist Joe Saward reported that Colapinto is being considered for a move to Red Bull’s junior team for next year, alongside Yuki Tsunoda, replacing Liam Lawson. Meanwhile, Lawson would be recruited to replace Sergio Perez, joining Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Williams had already signed current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz for the spot alongside Alex Albon. Colapinto was brought from the F2 to replace Logan Sargeant for the last leg of the 2024 season as he was underperforming.

Since his F1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix, Colapinto has already scored five points. However, if the movements at Red Bull don’t take place, the Argentine won’t have much opportunity to race in the main category, as there’s only one seat available at Sauber and many potential candidates.

Apart from Colapinto, other options that Sauber are considering for the seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg are: Valtteri Bottas, who according to reports is the frontrunner, Gabriel Bortoleto, an F2 championship leader, Mick Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu, and reserve driver Theo Pourchaire.

Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull in doubt

Perez’s season hasn’t been the best, and rumors about his potential exit from the team are getting stronger. While Verstappen leads the Drivers’ title race with 354 points, Perez is 204 points further back in eighth. Red Bull has struggled after just getting 19 points in the last five rounds, slipping 40 points in the Constructors’ Championship.

“I know I’ve had a terrible season, a very difficult one,” Perez told the press on Thursday, ahead of the Mexican GP this weekend. “It started well but then it’s been difficult. And if I get a strong result [in Mexico] it can definitely change my season massively. So I’m really up for it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Red Bull are trying to conquer for a second straight season the Constructors Championship in Formula One. Both drivers of the team, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, are also in a tremendous battle to claimthe title.

Now, as the biggest star of the NFL, Patrick Mahomes paid a visit to Red Bull at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix. Read here to check out the details of the very special moment with Max Verstappen and SergioPerez.

Miami Grand Prix: Patrick Mahomes meets Max Verstappen and Checo Perez

Many celebrities from almost every sport have arrived to Miami to enjoy the spectacular F1 Grand Prix. One of the them was Patrick Mahomes and the quarterback didn’t lose time to ‘convince’ Max Verstappen and Checo Perez.

“Welcome Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen to Chiefs Kingdom”. Thatwas the message by the NFL team in their official Twitter account with an extraordinary image of Mahomes and both pilots from Red Bull.

At the same time, Red Bull welcomed Patrick Mahomes to their paddock at the Miami Grand Prix. “Touching down in MIA with a 2x Super Bowl champ.”It was an incredible reunion between the best player in the NFL and the two biggest candidates to become F1 World Champions in 2023.

Individually, the man to beat is Max Verstappen. The Dutch star pilot has won the last two World Drivers Championships and, in 2022, he had a spectacular season with a record breaking performance of 15 races won throughout the calendar. He is only 25-years old and the sky seems to be the limit for a future legend of the sport.

However, the 2022 season had a bittersweet ending for Red Bull. When Max Verstappen had already clinched the World Championship, Sergio Perez was fighting for second place with Charles Leclerc and didn’t receive the needed help from his teammate. Now, Checo Perez has a strong warning toward 2023.

Checo Perez sends strong message to Max Verstappen for 2023 season

In the end, Charles Leclerc took away the second place in the World Championship from SergioPerez and the Mexican pilot wasn’t happy about it. The cracks at Red Bull were evident when Checo said loud and clear: “If Max won two championships, it’s all thanks to me.”

This year, Sergio Checo Perez definitely wants a fair shot at the title even though he knows Max Verstappen has the priority in the team. However, according to the words of Checo during an interview with Fox Sports Latin America, he won’t play along this time around.

“It will all depend, but in the end the most important thing is to work as a team. Obviously, if I see that I don’t receive the support when I need it, I won’t give that support back. That’s obvious, but I don’t expect anything of that. The important thing is that we know this will be a very intense season. Probably six cars will fight for the championship. It’s gonna be very important to work as a team in many races.”

Sergio Perez also talked about his relationship with Max Verstappen and if the problems of 2022 are in the past. “We’ve already talked about it and we have a very transparent relationship. The truth is that with Max I’ve always had a great relationship since the beginning and, in the end, it’s important to leave all that behind because we have to work as a team. The important thing is to support Red Bull.”

In 2022, Sergio Perez had the best year of his career finishing third in the World Drivers Championship. He had two wins (Monaco and Singapore) and eleven podiums. Furthermore, thanks to his performances, Red Bull extended his contract for two years. The Mexican pilot was crucial for Red Bull to clinch the Constructors’ Championship which Mercedes had won during eight consecutive seasons.

The Mexican driver is currently in third place in the Formula 1 individual drivers’ championship, a privileged position only behind his teammate Max Verstappen and one of Ferrari‘s representatives, Charles Leclerc.

Thus, today more than ever, the voice of Checo Perez is heard with attention around the world, so the comments he made regarding certain fans who attend the Grand Prix and that hurt more than they exalt Formula 1 and the sport in general are shocking.

Checo Perez’s harsh request to the fans who violate the Formula 1 environment

During the Austrian Grand Prix, Formula 1 received complaints from fans who reported having suffered verbal violence and racism from other individuals attending the race. Likewise, a girl denounced that Dutch fans of driver Max Verstappen harassed her by lifting her dress. Faced with this, Checo Perez was one of the drivers who raised his voice to call for a harsh punishment to such ruffians.

“Those fans do not represent the sport, do not share the values and are not welcome. It’s as simple as that. Hopefully they will be banned for life, never welcome them again. I don’t think a few fans should be allowed to embarrass us like that,” said the Mexican Red Bull Racing driver, according to the Associated Press.

Perez’s other colleagues, such as four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, current Formula 1 king Max Verstappen and multiple category winner Lewis Hamilton also spoke out, calling for the individuals who engaged in such behavior to be banned for life from motorsport.

It has been a great year for Red Bull-Honda Racing. In the 2021 season, Max Verstappen managed to win the championship with some spectacular races alongside Checo Perez, his teammate. They have demonstrated that a good relationship is vital to lead in every single track and now in 2022 they are both in the top 3 of the qualification.

Outside the sport, both drivers have created a solid friendship. Now, in an interview for LADbible TV, Verstappen and Checo sat in a table where they had to answer some questions. One of those was about Qatar 2022 to see which national teams are they favorites, each one recognizing that their squads (Netherlands and Mexico) will have some problems to get the Jules Rimmet back home.

Which teams are the favorites for Max Verstappen and Checo Perez to win Qatar 2022?

During an interview for LADbible TV, Max Verstappen and Checo Perez were asked if the Netherlands will win the FIFA World Cup. The first one defended his country and agreed with the question, while his teammate did not.

“I mean, you have to have a possitive attitude going into the tournament. You have to believe that you can win it, otherwise what’s the point of even going?”, said Verstappen. On the other hand, Perez established that the Netherlands do not have the best team in the competition to keep the title dream alive.

As for Checo, he was also asked if he sees Mexico as the next FIFA World Cup champion. “I’m also not to possitive on that one, to be honest. I hope I’m wrong and we go very far”, said Perez.

Regarding their favorites, Verstappen reaffirmed that the Netherlands will win in Qatar 2022. On the other hand, the Mexican driver revealed that Brazil is, for him, the strongest team in the tournament and the Canarinha should lift the Jules Rimmet in December 18th.

This is supported by looking not only at the constructors’ championship standings, but also at the individual drivers’ standings. In the latter, both the Dutchman, and reigning world champion, Verstappen and the Mexican Perez lead the list with a certain advantage over their closest pursuer Charles Leclerc.

That is where the curiosity of what was stated by Mexican Sergio Checo Perez, who made an analogy of what happened at the time between footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi with what is currently happening in the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 with his teammate Max Verstappen, comes to light.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; Checo Perez and Max Verstappen

On the Hugo Sanchez Presenta program on the Star + streaming platform, Checo Perez was interviewed by his compatriot and soccer legend, and made an analogy between what was once one of the most explosive rivalries in the history of sports, between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and what is currently happening at Red Bull Racing with his teammate and current Formula 1 champion, Max Verstappen, which has them fighting for motorsport glory.

“Messi is Verstappen. A very natural driver, very talented and he is the Messi of cars. I’m like Cristiano, talented too, but more worked and dedicated to get the best out of himself.“, stated Sergio Perez regarding the current internal battle between Verstappen and him.

At the time, the intense rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi during their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, led them to reach their peak performance and achieve their greatest achievements. It is quite possible that this same phenomenon is occurring between Sergio ChecoPerez and Max Verstappen with the clear benefit for Red Bull Racing.

Thus, it is evident that while the salary received by any of the 20drivers competing week after week in Formula 1 would be palatable to any individual in the world, there are differences, and notable ones, between what is earned by those who have already been world champions, such as Hamilton and the still-rookie Japanese Yuki Tsunoda.

So the question that arises is the following: which of the Formula 1 drivers is the one that pays the best dividends to his team, taking into consideration the results they obtain, at least so far this season (Azerbaijan Grand Prix), and the salary they earn? Let’s find out.

The highest paid drivers in Formula 1 2022 season

According to the Motor Sport Tickets portal, this is the list of yearly salaries earned by the 21 drivers competing in the current Formula 1 season. Not surprisingly, the top 5 includes names such as Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, Fernando Alonso of Alpine and Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin. Checo Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr. are in the middle of the standings.

1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – $40 million
2. Max Verstappen- Red Bull Racing – $25 million
3. Fernando Alonso- Alpine – $20 million
Lando Norris – McLaren -$20 million
5.Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin – $15 million
Daniel Ricciardo – McLaren – $15 million
7. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – $12 million
8. Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo – $10 million
Lance Stroll – Aston Martin – $10million
Carlos Sainz – Ferrari – $10million
11. Sergio Perez – Red Bull Racing – $8 million
12. Kevin Magnussen – Haas – $6 million
13. Pierre Gasly – AlphaTauri – $5 million
Esteban Ocon – Alpine – $5million
George Russell – Mercedes – $5million
16. Alexander Albon – Williams – $2 million
17. Mick Schumacher – Haas – $1million
Zhou Guanyu – Alfa Romeo- $1million
Nicholas Latifi – Williams – $1million
20. Yuki Tsunoda – Alpha Tauri -$750,000

The best result-salary performance in Formula 1 drivers in the 2022 season

It is here that the millions of dollars paid are justified and applauded, or regretted. And if logic were to prevail, the Formula 1 drivers with the best salaries should be those who deliver the best results. But motor racing, and sport in general, is capricious and the best does not always win or get the glory.

Thus, the performance parameter can be none other than the individual driver standings of all the teams competing in the 2022 Formula 1 season. That is where it is revealed which pair of hands is offering the best performance to the team that pays his salary.

The best ranked according to the performance salary parameter is the current world champion, Max Verstappen, who leads the Formula 1 drivers’ table and is the second highest paid in motorsport’s most prestigious competition. He is followed by his teammate, Sergio Perez who has a scandalously good performance as he is the eleventh highest paid but currently occupies the second position in the competition.

Checo Perez, outstanding; Max Verstappen, expected performance; Lewis Hamilton and Vettell, below expectations

Contrasting their place on the annual salary list with their position in the individual standings, Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Checo Perez of Mexico and Mercedes’ George Russell of Great Britain are the best performers, far exceeding the expectations placed on them. Evidently, both drivers have powerful vehicles that allow them to better show their skills.

Subsequently, the drivers that stand out are those who deliver the results expected of them or just a little more, as in the case of current champion Max Verstappen, who, being the second highest paid in Formula 1 and currently occupying the top spot, is justifying every dollar he receives. Same case Valteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen.

Finally, there is the group of those who are delivering negative or disastrous results, since what they perceive is not in tune with their performance so far this Formula 1 season. Veterans and also figures such as Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and, above all, Sebastian Vettel, are the example of the above.

The Mexican has increased his level of influence through sporting success. He has simply become his country’s driver with the most Formula 1 victories after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. Perez has three wins in 11 years at the highest level of motorsport.

Also recently, it was announced that he has extended his contract with Red Bull Racing for two more years. This came hand in hand with a juicy salary increase, in which, according to Racing News 365, he would be going from a guaranteed 5 million per season to 10 million. This does not include performance bonuses and sponsorship income.

Checo Perez responds to fan’s request and sends him a video support video

This story began with a girl’s video request of support for Checo Perez. The reason: Luis, her father, a die-hard fan of the Mexican Formula 1 driver, is hospitalized as a result of the effects cancer has had on his digestive system.

The girl’s request was made through Twitter, where she obtained more than 1700 retweets that allowed her wish to reach Checo Perez. The Red Bull driver contacted her through a direct message to confirm that he would send her a video with words of encouragement for her ailing father.

“Hi, Luis.I’m Checo Perez. I want to send you a message to cheer you up. Your daughter contacted me… I send you a lot of strength and I hope that this weekend I can give you another joy.”,Perez said in the video he sent to the young woman who contacted him, to whom he also emphasized something important to her father: “Never give up”.

The emotional reaction of the fan who received the support of Sergio Pérez

Luis’ daughter thanked Sergio Checo Perez for the message he sent to her father, but also shared with his followers the reaction of her father, who was bedridden in a hospital bed, had a moment of joy to see how his idol showed his support in the hard battle he is fighting against colon cancer.

“Checo, you just gave me the surprise of my life. Thank you very much. I have been a fan of yours since you were in GP2. I saw you make your debut in Australia with Sauber (in Formula 1). You have always been an inspiration not only for me, but for millions of Mexicans… Your noble gesture reflects the goodness of your heart. You don’t know how much this has motivated me, and as you say, ‘Never give up’.”expressed a moved Luis due to the video of Checo Perez, who will compete in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with an extra motivation to achieve another victory.

So much so, that in addition to celebrating, perhaps a little too much, his victory in Monaco, which made him the Mexican with the most wins in Formula 1 with 3, Checo Perez was delighted with the announcement of the extension of his contract with Red Bull Racing. The Mexican will be at the wheel of the Austrian team until 2024.

This renewal allows Perez to continue racing at the highest level in Formula 1, as Red Bull is one of the teams with the best car, and with guarantees of success. However, in addition to the sporting prestige, the Mexican will also enjoy an economic benefit.

The reason why Checo Perez justifies his million-dollar pay raise with Red Bull Racing

Being in one of the most powerful teams in Formula 1, such as Red Bull, is a privilege that few can have. Quite simply, Checo Perez drives one of the fastest cars on the circuit and is teammate to the current world champion, Max Verstappen. The salary that the Mexican driver will receive is commensurate with the place he occupies and for him it is fair.

“Today I think I’m in the best moment of my career and driving for a team that is always looking for perfection, which is the perfect match for me and for any driver…. I was very happy to extend my stay with the team until at least 2024, it shows what a great job we have done together and how happy we are with each other. Having my future decided allows me to be one hundred percent focused on the main goal of winning races and world titles.“,read Checo’s statement distributed by Red Bull Racing.

Checo Perez’s hefty salary after contract extension with Red Bull Racing

According to Racing News 365, Sergio Perez is reportedly earning $10 million for each of the two seasons in which he has extended his contract with Red Bull Racing. This would mean an increase of 50 percent, since until this season, he is earning “only” $5 million, far from the $25 million yearly earned by his teammate Max Verstappen.

Perez’s euphoria after his third Formula 1 victory, which made him the winningest Mexican driver in history, led him to celebrate excessively. This was revealed by the videos of his celebration leaked on social media, which showed him very drunk and also with a seductive attitude with a woman who is not his wife. Checo was forced to publicly apologize for his actions.

Now, Formula 1’s next stop takes the teams to compete at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on June 12, a circuit with only 5 years of history. However, at this track, Red Bull Racing would be at risk of having to put out an internal fire that could be started by Sergio Checo Perez.

Azerbaijan and Checo Perez, a combo that could set Red Bull Racing on fire

It is no open secret who the Austrian team’s star driver is. That is the Dutchman Max Verstappen, the current Formula 1 world champion, who is looking for a second championship this season. That preference was noticeable at the Spain Grand Prix when Red Bull asked Checo Perez not to hinder his teammate so he could win the race.

“This is very unfair,” the Mexican driver said over the radio before obeying the order. This nascent tension between the Red Bull Racing teammates would have increased at the Monaco Grand Prix with the victory of Checo Perez. According to the British media Express, Max Verstappen’s father expressed his disappointment with the team for not having given more support to his son to triumph.

The good news and bad news for Red Bull is that the most recent winner of the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix is none other than Sergio Checo Perez. The Mexican usually delivers good results at this circuit, as out of the 4 races he has raced there, he has won 1 first place, 1 third place and 1 sixth place. Only in 2017 he did not score because he had to retire due to technical problems.

Given the controversy at Red Bull Racing due to the good moment that both Perez and Verstappen are experiencing, the team’s Team Principal, Christian Horner, has come out to clarify that institutionally there is no preference towards any of its drivers.

“It’s a nice challenge to have, but ultimately they are team players, they are part of the team. It’s not ‘Sergio Perez Racing’ or ‘Max Verstappen Racing’, it’s Red Bull Racing.“, stated Horner recently in an interview for Bloomberg TV.

The question here is: what would happen if Sergio Perez were to achieve, for the first time in his career, two consecutive victories by finishing first in the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix? Would it be the beginning of the fracture with a Max Verstappen who seems unwilling to concede a single point in his bid to become a two-time World Champion? This remains to be seen on June 12 when the race takes place.