Sergio Perez lifts lid on Red Bull contract talks and surprise Lewis Hamilton factor

Sergio Perez has explained that his contract negotiations with Red Bull were 'straightforward' and that the longevity of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso is inspiring him to extend his F1 career.

The 34-year-old has scored a podium in just one of the last five Grands Prix, but scored a new two-year contract extension ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, keeping him with Red Bull until the end of 2026.

Explaining his feelings ahead of the race in Montreal, Perez said: "Obviously I feel happy once you get an agreement. It means that both parties are happy with what we've got and I'm happy to move forward, and obviously, we've got great targets ahead of us.

"Red Bull... it's a team that really takes everything out of you. It's something that, since I came here, how intense everything is on track, off track... it's a challenge that you don't have anywhere else, I haven't had that sort of challenge in my career.

"So when I sign I'm really up for it and willing to give 100 per cent. And in terms of the... it was just a very straightforward negotiation. Obviously, I've been in the team for a few years already, so it's always I think, when you're already there, easier to make an agreement."

Perez was later pressed about his long-term F1 future. He gave a nod to two of his peers: "Certainly when you look at Fernando and Lewis, there's a way to go [for me]. I want to finish my career at Red Bull."

The Mexican driver's recent on-track struggles meant that, for many, his new contract was a head-scratcher. However, Perez is extremely valuable in a commercial sense, likely to have played a role in securing his renewed terms with Red Bull.

Confirming that theory, Helmut Marko told Kleine Zeitung: "We want to ensure continuity and both drivers get on really well. Checo is incredibly popular in Latin America. We sell more of his merch there than Verstappen's, and when he's on his game, he's almost unbeatable."