Sergio Perez has shone at Racing Point but doesn’t have a seat for 2021… it’d be a shame to see him out of F1 if he doesn’t join Red Bull

As the 2020 Formula One season draws to a close, Sergio Perez’s time in Formula One looks increasingly like it could be over, with Red Bull still yet to confirm their second driver for the 2021 season.

Perez, who currently sits fourth in the drivers’ championship, is yet to be given a seat on the grid for next year despite this arguably being his best ever performance in an F1 season. 

Last weekend at the Turkish Grand Prix saw the Mexican achieve his joint best-ever finish – he picked up a hugely impressive second place after a super drive in challenging conditions in Istanbul.

With Perez seemingly at the top of his game, it seems a great shame that he could be out of luck for a place on the grid next year, with Red Bull still clinging on to the hope that Alex Albon will prove his worth in the last three races of the season.

The Red Bull seat is the only real possible choice for Perez, positions in other teams look unlikely and would certainly be a downgrade for the Mexican driver.

The Racing Point driver is one of just two drivers on the grid who has scored points in every race he’s started, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton being the other.

Perez is being replaced at Racing Point by Sebastien Vettel at the end of this season, but in an interview with Sky Sports F1 last weekend, he admitted he’s relaxed about the situation he finds himself in.

Perez said: ‘It’s out of my hands. At the moment I’m just focusing on finishing on a high, and if the opportunity comes then great. If not, I’m prepared to stop for a year as well.’

It would be a disappointment not to see him racing next year, but it would serve as a grim reminder that having a place in F1 isn’t just down to you being a talented racer, with some keeping their spots due to wealthy backing.

The 2020 F1 season finishes with a triple-header, with two races in Bahrain starting this weekend – rounded off with the finale in Abu Dhabi on 13 December.

By Liam Davies