Sergio Pérez has reflected on the remarkable period during which he was involved in the rescue of Force India, but ultimately had to make way when the team continued under the Aston Martin banner. The Mexican states that he harbors no resentment, but acknowledges that loyalty in Formula 1 is often subordinate to performance and opportunities.
Pérez joined Force India in 2014, which at the time was owned by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya. When financial problems surrounding Mallya and his company Kingfisher Airlines endangered the team in 2018, Pérez took the initiative to protect the staff and prevent bankruptcy. Lawrence Stroll then stepped in with a consortium, after which Force India became Racing Point. Pérez stayed on and got Lance Stroll as a teammate.
The collaboration seemed to grow into a joint project, but when Racing Point later became Aston Martin, the team decided to replace Pérez with Sebastian Vettel. In the High Performance Podcast, the Mexican looked back on that decision. “It was difficult,” Pérez sighed. According to the driver, he had expected to remain part of the team’s new ambitions. “I had a three-year contract, obviously with options, and I felt my future was with that team. I had been involved with it for almost my entire life.”
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Sergio Pérez: ‘No loyalty in Formula 1’
“I even helped buy the team, name it all,” Pérez continued somewhat frustrated. “So I really thought I would be part of that project together with Lawrence and Lance (Stroll, ed.). But then Sebastian (Vettel, ed.) became available,” he recalled. The four-time world champion left Ferrari in 2020. “A four-time world champion became available, and I understood that this is how the sport works. I knew he would be a great asset for Lawrence. As soon as he got that option, my contract was not renewed and they chose Sebastian.”
The Mexican emphasized that he did not take that choice personally, despite his feeling that there is little loyalty in Formula 1. “I said something like: ‘Look, there is no loyalty in this sport.’ I didn’t take it personally; I actually have a great relationship with everyone at Aston Martin.” Pérez got his revenge by winning the Sakhir GP at the end of 2020, after which Red Bull came knocking. “I never thought I could drive for Red Bull, because they always choose drivers from their own development program.”
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