Sergio Perez to race for Red Bull in 2021 F1 season as Alexander Albon is demoted to reserve

Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Sergio Perez will partner Max Verstappen in the upcoming 2021 Formula One season.

Perez will take the second seat at Red Bull replacing Alexander Albon who will move to a reserve/test driver role.

Perez found himself without a seat in Formula One once Racing Point signed four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel in September. 

The Mexican looked to be taking a sabbatical from the sport before Red Bull saw Perez as a possible option to partner Verstappen. 

A whole host of names were liked with the second Red Bull seat as the likes of Nico Hulkenburg looked to rejoin the sport after being dropped by Renault just a year ago.

The announcement confirmed speculation surrounding who would be Verstappen’s teammate for the coming year, with Albon failing to impress in his first full season with Red Bull. 

Albon was able to secure two podiums in his season and a half tender with the team, however the 24-year-old never quite matched the pace of upcoming star Max Verstappen. 

The Dutchman finished third in the drivers’ championship with Albon lingering in sevenths, 109 points less than his teammate, who also managed to out-qualify him on every occasion this season.

The British-born Thai driver said he was proud of his recent performances as Red Bull team principal Cristian Horner claimed that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was Albon’s “strongest race weekend” of the year. 

His replacement, Perez claimed his maiden F1 victory this year at the Sakhir Grand Prix as well as picking up a podium at the Turkish Grand Prix.

Despite missing two race weekends due to Covid-19, Perez still secured fourth in the drivers’ championship with 125 points to his name.

Perez previously made a step up to McLaren in 2013 but failed to impress, just seven years later the Guadalajara born Mexican will be given a second chance at one of Formula One’s title-contending teams. 

Red Bull finished runners-up in 2020 and will be looking to mount a challenge to Mercedes come the 2021 F1 season.

By Cameron Anderson-Jones