Christian Horner and Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez has a strange clause with Red Bull – here’s everything you need to know
Sergio Perez is said to have a contractual provision that allows his salary to be modified if he lags behind his teammate Max Verstappen by a specific points margin. At present, Perez’s contract is believed to be worth approximately €7 million, alongside an additional bonus of €3 million.
However, these figures might be reduced, considering Perez’s current point deficit of exactly 125 points compared to Verstappen. Although Red Bull has the option to activate this clause this month, it’s unlikely to impact the contract’s duration, which is set to continue until the conclusion of 2024.
Verstappen’s impressive streak of eight consecutive wins has aligned with a decline in Sergio Perez’s performance, leading to him failing to reach Q3 in five consecutive grand prix races.
Lately, there has been heightened scrutiny on the contract Perez entered in 2022, with rumors suggesting that the agreement might enable him to be moved from Red Bull to AlphaTauri, a pattern often observed with Red Bull’s drivers. However, this speculation was proven inaccurate later on.
Nonetheless, a recently disclosed aspect of the contract could potentially impact Perez’s earnings more significantly than his position on the racing grid.
Perez’s earnings at Red Bull Racing amount to 10 million dollars as his base salary, but his overall income surpasses this figure due to sponsorships. In 2022, he garnered over 1.3 million dollars by taking on the role of Jalisco’s ambassador, focusing on boosting tourism in his place of origin.
Alongside the Red Bull Racing affiliation, Perez’s attire showcases various brands including Telcel, Telmex, Xades, Tag Heuer, Kavak, Banorte, and Unifin, all of which significantly contribute to the substantial income of the 33-year-old Mexican driver.
Sergio Perez holds the position of being the sixth highest-paid driver among the current F1 lineup. A select few drivers, despite not having won the World Championship, command compensation packages that reach into the tens of millions. Notably, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari stands out, receiving $24 million from the Scuderia in 2023. Alongside him, Carlos Sainz enjoys a salary of $12 million, and Valtteri Bottas, who made a move from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo in 2021, also secures $10 million annually, the same as Perez.
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