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Red Bull Racing has announced the signing of Sergio Pérez for the 2021 Formula 1 season, replacing Alexander Albon.
Following reports Thursday night that outgoing Racing Point driver Perez would take Albon’s seat, Red Bull confirmed on Friday that the Mexican would be joining Max Verstappen’s teammate for next year.
Albon will become a reserve with Red Bull after less than 18 months competing for the team.
“Alex is a valued member of the team and we thought a lot about this decision,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
“After taking our time to evaluate all the relevant data and performances, we have decided that Sergio is the right driver to accompany Max in 2021 and we look forward to welcoming him to Red Bull Racing.
“Alex continues to be an important part of our team as a test and reserve driver with a key focus on the development of 2022 and we would like to thank him for his hard work and contribution.”
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Perez’s arrival marks the last big move in the driver market for 2021, and leaves Mercedes as the only team that has yet to formally confirm its lineup, although a new contract for Lewis Hamilton is expected to be finalized shortly.
Pérez becomes the first driver to sign for Red Bull from outside their junior team, Toro Rosso, since Mark Webber arrived from Williams in 2007.
It comes from the back of Pérez’s most successful year in F1, which saw him take his first victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix and finish the season fourth in the drivers’ championship.
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Racing Point announced in September that Pérez would be leaving after seven seasons with the Silverstone-based team, ushering in the addition of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel from Ferrari.
It left Perez with no options to stay on the grid, which was further reduced after Alfa Romeo and Haas opted not to sign him.
Contact with Williams’ new owners didn’t go very far as he kept his existing lineup, making Red Bull Perez the only chance to stay on the grid.
He said he was “at peace” with a possible exit from F1 and that he already had options to return in 2022 should he be forced to take a year off.
But Perez’s rebound coincided with Albon’s struggles at Red Bull, as he continually failed to match Verstappen, who scored more than double his teammate’s points this year.
Red Bull repeatedly said it wanted to give Albon as much time as possible to claim the seat, postponing a decision until after the end of the season.
A return of just two third places compared to Verstappen’s two-win streak and nine more podiums left Albon in a precarious position, prompting the call to replace him with Perez.
Autosport understands that Albon was officially informed of the decision in a meeting with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner on Friday afternoon, shortly before the announcement was made.
It marks an abrupt end to Albon’s time running for Red Bull after a shocking promotion in just 12 races in his F1 career, replacing fighter Pierre Gasly midway through the 2019 season.
While Gasly has since flourished by returning to Toro Rosso, now AlphaTauri, Red Bull ruled out a possible return trade.
Horner confirmed earlier this month that there was no chance of Albon making a similar comeback to Red Bull’s sister team, which has since signed Honda junior Yuki Tsunoda as Gasly’s partner in 2021.
Pérez will become the fourth different rider to ride alongside Verstappen since 2018, after Albon, Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo.
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