F1 News: Helmut Marko Shuts Down Sergio Perez Contract Rumours

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has dismissed recent rumours about Sergio Perez's contract.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has shot down recent rumours of Sergio Perez's contract with the team changing. 

As Formula One headed into the summer break, which will be lasting until the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of the month, rumours began to emerge that the Mexican driver's contract could be changed. The rumours detailed that, as the gap between Perez and his teammate Max Verstappen is now 125 points in the drivers' standings, his bonus payment would change. 

During an interview with F1-Insider, Marko responded to these claims, saying that he didn't know where they had come from and the "contracts are precisely regulated". He explained:

"I don't know where he comes from either. It's something completely made up. The contracts are precisely regulated. There will be no pay cuts.

"I can only say it over and over again: We lead the drivers' championship with both drivers and are clearly ahead in the team standings."

There has been a huge amount of speculation over Perez's future with the team after he struggled to keep up with two-time champion Verstappen and the return of Daniel Ricciardo to AlphaTauri putting pressure on. However, both Marko and team chief Christian Horner have remained adamant that Perez's seat on the team is secure. Marko continued:

"As for Pérez: he was in a bit of a crisis, but he has turned around again in the last two races. Verstappen cannot be beaten at the moment. Not by Pérez, not by any other driver."

Perez is in contract with the Austrian team until the end of 2024 and no extensions have been confirmed yet.