Sergio Perez has been retained by Red Bull for the 2022 Formula 1 season, it was confirmed on Friday.
The Mexican was chosen to replace Alex Albon this season, becoming the first non-junior to join the team since Mark Webber in 2007.
And so far, Perez has just about lived up to expectations, helping Red Bull and Max Verstappen in their championship fight with Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton respectively.
The highlight of course was his second F1 career win at Baku earlier in the summer, and Checo is hopeful for more success next year.
“I’m really happy to be continuing with a great team like Red Bull into the new era of Formula 1 and it’s a great opportunity for me," he said.
"Everyone starts from zero next year with the new regulations, so my only goal is to go all the way to the top with Red Bull.
"It always takes time to get on top of everything when you join a new team but things have worked well this season and I really enjoy being a part of the Red Bull family," he added.
"We’ve been working hard to deliver results so it’s great to see the team have faith in me for the future.
"We have so much more to achieve together and we still have a great challenge on our hands this season so I really hope we can finish the year on a high and carry that momentum into 2022.
"I want to thank all my supporters around the world and especially those in Mexico. From my sponsors to my fans, they have been so enthusiastic since I joined Red Bull so I really hope we can reward them by reaching the top and winning the title.”
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In his remarks, team boss Christian Horner praised Perez's contribution towards Red Bull this season and for the future.
“Checo is a highly respected team member and his experience and race-craft are invaluable as we fight for the Constructors’ Championship," he said.
"His integration into the wider team has been seamless and we have been impressed by his performances during the first half of the season which demonstrates what he’s capable of in our car.
"Next year we move into a new era of F1 with completely revised regulations and cars, and with over 200 races and a decade of experience under his belt, Checo will play an integral role in helping the team navigate this transition and maximise the RB18.
"Our current attention is on ending the 2021 season as strongly as possible and we look forward to seeing Checo build on a first successful season with the team.”
