Sergio Perez will remain a Red Bull driver after agreeing a fresh two-year contract with the world champions.
The Mexican's old contract expired at the end of the 2024 season, and he has been locked in talks with Red Bull bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko trying to come to an agreement on new terms.
Perez wanted a two-year deal but it appeared that motorsport advisor Marko was only keen on a one-year option, but the five-time grand prix winner has got his way, although, as usual, it is expected there will be performance clauses on both sides.
RacingNews365's Jake Nichol and Fergal Walsh are here to debate their opinions on the news, and be sure to vote in the poll at the bottom of the article to let us know your thoughts!
Jake Nichol - The 'meh' option
Throughout Red Bull's history in F1, it has never been afraid to make the driver market go 'pop' with an unexpected promotion - or ruthless demotion of an under-performing driver.
In short, if you've shown flashes of consistency at the junior team, you would at least get a shot in the senior team - and if you fail there, the next cab off the Helmut Marko rank will slide in and take your place.
It was precisely because Marko ran out of cabs in 2020 that the under-performing Alex Albon was given the boot and Perez brought in, and over the previous three-and-a-bit seasons, he has done an admirable job for a top-level, grand prix-winning driver.
But he is not going to improve. Red Bull obviously likes what Perez brings to the team and that largely, he won't ruffle Max Verstappen's feathers and will keep the duo together for a fifth term next season.
It's the boring option. If Red Bull was going to keep to the ethos it has shown with its drivers down the years, then Yuki Tsunoda should be at least given his chance at the senior team.
He's basically ended the career of another top-level, grand prix-winning driver in Daniel Ricciardo and, so far in 2024, has added consistency to the pace he's always had.
Even if he would turn out to be another Albon and not just quite at the level needed at the time, Tsunoda would prevent things at Red Bull from going stale and just energise the team more than Perez ever could.
Fergal Walsh - Red Bull's risk, can it pay off?
Red Bull has struggled to get a team-mate to operate consistently alongside Max Verstappen ever since Daniel Ricciardo left the team at the end of the 2018 season.
Looking around the grid, there were certainly options available to Red Bull - but did any inspire confidence that they would slip into that role of being fast enough to beat rival teams but not strong enough to threaten Verstappen?
Perez's early season form was exactly that but he has struggled across the last couple of races, sprouting fears he is falling back into the slump in form that marred his 2023 campaign.
A capable number two for Red Bull is critical now, perhaps more than ever. A challenge from rivals Ferrari and McLaren has sprouted over the last handful of rounds and should that pace be maintained for the remainder of the year and into 2025, Red Bull has a fight on its hands.
Red Bull will need Perez to step up on that front if it wishes to continue its championship-winning form and so the Mexican must draw on his experience to keep other drivers at bay.
While Verstappen may be able to do his thing in the fight for the drivers' title, Red Bull is at risk of missing out on double-championship success if Perez can't get his form behind the wheel under control.
But he proved in the early rounds that he has the potential, now he just needs to extract it and justify Red Bull's decision to extend him further.
Do you think Red Bull has made the right decision in re-signing Sergio Perez? Let us know by voting in the poll below and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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