The complexities and conversations behind Perez’s Red Bull exit

It has been quite clear for some time now sergio perez would like Don’t be part of Red Bull’s future in Formula 1 Behind his troubled 2024 campaign.

However, what was not so clear was how the situation would be if they parted ways due to the complications created by having a firm contract.

This was the result of Red Bull’s decision in June to hand Pérez a two-year extension for 2025 and 2026, after the team thought it would settle him.

As Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admitted about that call earlier this month: “We decided to go early – which obviously didn’t work out. Sometimes this is just life.”

However, once committed to it, there was no way Red Bull could change its mind and simply decide on its own that it liked doing something different.

In the big-money world of F1, drivers and their managers don’t agree to tear up multi-million pound contracts and walk away without putting some kind of deal on the table.

And a main weapon in Perez’s arsenal was his experienced manager Julien Jacobi, who is known for driving hard bargains by working with the likes of Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and the likes. Jacques Villeneuve In his long career in F1.

Red Bull was well aware of the contractual situation in the closing stages of the season, when it was clear based on performances that it wanted to make changes, but also understood that there were other factors that influenced the situation. Had spoiled.

It knew that Perez needed to own up to the realities of the situation he was in.

However, achieving the desired outcome is never straightforward, as there is a clear game being played by both parties when it comes to reaching an agreement to terminate the contract. If you’re the one you know the other party wants to get rid of, it’s best to make it clear over and over again that your intention is to end things. You see this happen again and again, when people realize there’s a chance they’ll get ahead – they dig in their heels.

A famous example was the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, when then-Aston Martin boss Ottmar Szafnar’s days were numbered after he was linked with a switch. alpineSpeaking at a press conference that weekend and asked about his future, his stance was nonchalant but typical in its words: “I’ve been at the team for 12 years, I have no intention of leaving.” His departure was finally confirmed two months later as an exit package was put in place.

Taking a tough approach to terminating a contract means that once the lawyers arrive, they can argue that any steps taken to terminate the contract should be compensated for with the largest payout possible.

If you forget that you are ready to make a deal, or that you are thinking of moving forward anyway, it weakens your hand in the negotiation.

It was that fight that was going to rage in the final stages of the season as Pérez, well aware that the writing was on the wall, delved further into his determination to race with Red Bull. And stated his strong belief that he would remain. With the squad.

In Abu Dhabi he said: “Nothing has changed from before in terms of what I have said throughout the year. I’ve got a contract for next year and I’ll be driving for Red Bull next year.

Red Bull equally knew it couldn’t just dump Perez – because if any violations were signed it could involve F1’s contract recognition board.

This meant an agreement would have to be reached, which is why Red Bull were always keen to get Perez to accept that negotiations would have to be done to find a way out. At the start of Qatar, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner spoke to Pérez about things not working out.

“It is not a pleasant situation for Checo to be in this situation with speculation every week,” he said. “He is old and wise enough to know what the situation is and let’s see where we are after Abu Dhabi.”

Once Red Bull shareholders agreed at a meeting in Dubai on the Monday after the season finale that they could not continue with Pérez, the matter became one of reaching an agreement.

And, as Horner revealed, when she and Perez sat down to discuss matters last week, it was an admission on both of their ends that they would not have a future together.

Horner told Sky Sports F1: “He (Perez) reflected after the season, and we sat down last week and discussed what are the next steps? And he decided that he’s going to take some time off, essentially a sabbatical from F1, and he’s still going to be involved with the brand and the team, but moving forward he’s stepping back from driving duties. It was sad to see him leave the team, but clearly the time has come for him to spend time with his young family and consider what he wants to do for the future.”

So, ultimately it became a case of crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s.

While F1 is a series where passion is greater than hundredths of a second, when it comes to contracts, lawyers and managers, it moves much more slowly.

There are inevitably debates over terms and wording, clarifications on what should and should not be included in the negotiations, and of course the biggest issue – the financial compensation package. This explains the delay in getting to where we have finally arrived today. And it is understood that this was all going on until the 11th hour before Perez finally made the news of his departure public.

The details of what was ultimately agreed between Pérez and Red Bull are known only to him, but it is notable that the first confirmation of their relationship finally ending came from Pérez himself.

This was presented as Pérez’s own decision. The announcement was “a message from Checo” and quickly referenced that “an agreement to part ways” had been reached between the driver and the team. It’s that fine line between jumping in and pushing yourself: the end result is the same, but the starting point is very different once lawyers get involved.

As for Perez, the deal could leave him on the fringes of F1 for 2025, but at least he’ll get a decent salary as he considers his next steps in racing.

And for Red Bull, there may be costs in finally sorting out the agreement, but it will hope that what it has had to pay, and the potential loss in sponsorship money brought in by Pérez, will be better compensated for in next year’s Constructors’ Championship. Shot in.