Perez's father vows of 'historic' F1 comeback

Sergio Perez's father has suggested the axed Red Bull driver will not "abandon" Formula 1, and that a "historic" return could be possible.

Following a torrid 2024 campaign in which he scored just 48 points in the final 18 races of the year, Perez was dropped by Red Bull, despite having signed a new two-year deal shortly before the Canadian Grand Prix.

The decision to drop Perez brings to an end, for now, his grand prix career, having been a fixture on the grid since his debut in 2011. Perez's 281 race starts places him eighth on the all-time list.

Perez himself has set a deadline of deciding what he wants to do with his future for six months' time, but his father Antonio is sure that he will return to the grid - and show the "best version" of himself.

"The best version of Checo Pérez is yet to come, everyone will be very happy and very proud," Perez senior told SoyMotor.

"This is what Checo Pérez does, what is coming will be historic, I assure you. 

"It's going to be wonderful, he's the best-known Latin American in the world today, above footballers and media personalities.

"Great things are coming for the Pérez family, the only thing I can tell you is that the Pérez family have not abandoned Formula 1.

"We have to thank Red Bull a lot. Checo Pérez's best years in his sporting career were at Red Bull. This should not be taken as a rivalry, this is the world of motor racing. 

"We have to understand something about this to make it clear, Formula 1 only has 20 seats, there are more than 7 billion of us. Everyone is looking for a seat there."