Confirmed: Red Bull Racing retains Alexander Albon for 2021 as a reserve driver, while signed Sergio Pérez to partner Max Verstappen in 2021 on a one-year-deal

It was confirmed on Friday (18/12/20) that Red Bull Racing will retain Alexander Albon for the 2021 Formula 1 season as a reserve driver, while Red Bull signed Sergio Pérez to partner Max Verstappen in 2021 on a one-year-deal, with an option for the 2022 F1 season.

Red Bull decided Albon had not performed strongly enough in his 18 months with the team to justify continuing in a race seat.

And Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said it had been "impossible to ignore Sergio's performance in Racing Point, particularly in the second half of the season" which include a Grand Prix win at Bahrain. Pérez finished fourth in the Drivers' Standings this season, While Albon finished seventh in the Drivers' standings with two third place finishes.

He added that Albon was still a potential contender for a race seat in 2022.

Pérez was in danger of losing his seat in the sport following Racing Point's decision to sign Sebastian Vettel on a multi-year deal from 2021 to partner Lance Stroll.

The Red Bull seat offered him a lifeline which many will feel his performances this season justified.

It is the first time since 2013, when Mark Webber departed, that Red Bull’s senior team has fielded a driver from outside of its Red Bull Academy.

Overall, not a surprise with the news, it has been rumoured the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from last week that Sergio Pérez has sign for the team. Gutted for Alexander Albon at this late stage of the year with his demotion to reserve driver. No change of a return to AlphaTauri for 2021 as the team sign Yuki Tsunoda to keep Honda happy, hopefully helps both teams out on a deal for 2022 onwards.

Anyway, good luck for both Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez next season at Red Bull.