Sergio Perez makes major change as F1 comeback rumours ramp up

Mexican racer Sergio Perez may not be actively competing in Formula 1 in 2025, but all eyes are on the former Red Bull driver as rumours mount that he’s planning a big return for the F1 2026 season.

But according to Xavi Martos, Perez’s former physiotherapist, has pointed to a change in the driver’s management that seems to point directly to a return.

Does Sergio Perez’s new management signal an F1 return?

Thirty-five-year-old Sergio Perez isn’t quite ready to hang up the helmet just yet, his former trainer Xavi Martos alleges.

Perez got his start in Formula 1 back in 2011, moving from Sauber to McLaren to Force India/Racing Point before finally making the swap to Red Bull Racing for the 2021 season.

The Mexican driver partnered up with Max Verstappen as the Dutch driver kicked off an era of dominance that saw him secure four consecutive World Championships — during which time Perez served as a reliable second driver.

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But in 2024, rumours began to emerge that Sergio Perez was on the outs despite having inked a contract renewal in the early stages of the year. His performance took a steep downturn, and when the checkered flag flew on the year, Red Bull announced that Perez would indeed be sidelined in favor of young driver Liam Lawson.

Despite that, Perez has been pegged for a potential Formula 1 return in 2026. The incoming Cadillac F1 team is said to be interested in signing him — though his name has also been linked to the likes of Alpine.

And Perez’s former trainer Xavi Martos has pinpointed one thing that “I think people haven’t noticed.”

“I watched as a spectator and people have never said it,” Martos said on the Duralavita podcast.

“Checo has a new manager — I don’t know if you’ve read it. He had Julian [Jakobi], now he has another one.

“I wonder: Why does he have a new manager?”

Perez had been represented by manager Julian Jakobi for years. It was Jakobi who negotiated the ultimately ill-fated Red Bull contract extension. Now, though, Martos alleges the two have parted ways.

“I think that answers everything,” Martos said.

“If you don’t want to stop driving, you don’t hire a new manager. At least, that wouldn’t occur to me.”

Perez himself mentioned the swap back in June, confirming that he had signed Khalil Beschir, a Lebanese driver turned motorsport manager and consultant.

“I want to go back because I don’t want to end my career like this,” Perez said in the Desde el Paddock podcast.

“I’ll go back if it’s worth paying the price to be in F1.”

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