Red Bull confirm new two-year extension for Perez

Michelle Foster 31 May 2022 1:30 PM

Christian Horner congratulates Sergio Perez on his way. Monaco May 2022

Christian Horner congratulates Sergio Perez on his way, cameraman filming the moment. Monaco May 2022

Sergio Perez has followed up his Monaco GP win with a new Red Bull contract, although it looks as if it may have been signed before Sunday’s race.

Re-signing with Red Bull last year for the 2022 championship, Perez made it known that he wants a long-term future with the Milton Keynes squad.

Perez has now been confirmed on a new two-year deal with Red Bull Racing, with the team releasing a short video on their social media channels confirming Perez until the end of 2024.

The deal was confirmed on Tuesday, the May announcement earlier than usual for Red Bull, but that was probably because Perez let the cat out of the bag on Sunday.

Congratulated by team boss Christian Horner after his Monaco GP win, he was caught on camera joking that he had “probably signed too early”, Horner chuckling at that.

"I PROBABLY SIGNED TOO EARLY" did i hear that right?????? tell me i heard that right!?!?!? pic.twitter.com/vZY5Vshcxa

— demi 🦁 (@formulademi) May 29, 2022

Perez’s new contract sees Red Bull retain the same line up for a third year running, with the former Racing Point driver continuing alongside Max Verstappen.

Sunday’s result means Perez closed the gap to Verstappen to just 15 points in the Drivers’ Championship with Horner saying the Mexican driver is definitely in the title fight.

“He’s in this championship just as much as Max is. The difference between the two of them is 15 points now, it’s nothing, so it’s a long way to go in this championship,” he said on Sunday.

Perez’s latest contract has once again closed the Red Bull door for Pierre Gasly, the Frenchman most likely set to remain with AlphaTauri again as Helmut Marko has previously confirmed that he has a contract through to 2023.