Dr. Helmut Marko has refuted claims that Sergio Perez's recent contract extension with Red Bull Racing is only for one year.
Before the confirmation, there were speculations that while Perez and his sponsors wanted a two-year deal, Red Bull proposed only a year-long contract for 2025.
These rumors hinted that Red Bull desired flexibility for 2026, considering uncertainties over Max Verstappen's continuation and Yuki Tsunoda's promising performances in the junior team.
Simultaneously, gossip suggested Carlos Sainz might opt for a one-year contract with Williams for 2025, keeping his future options open, possibly for a move to Red Bull in 2026.
"Carlos Sainz is a good driver and he's available for next season, so we thought about that for a long time," team principal Christian Horner shared with Viaplay.
"But we thought stability and continuity was the right choice," he elaborated.
In Montreal, Japanese driver Tsunoda hinted that Perez's new agreement might contain performance-related stipulations.
"Perez still has to perform in the next two years," Tsunoda mentioned. "Anything can happen in these kinds of circumstances."
Regarding the rumors about the duration of Perez's contract, Red Bull's senior F1 consultant Dr. Helmut Marko stated in Montreal: "Ultimately, Checo delivers.
He has some ups and downs, but he is still a very fast driver."
Addressing the speculation that the contract might be for one year with an option for the second, the 81-year-old clarified: "There are always clauses in contracts, but in general, it is really a two-year contract."
