The IndyCar Series has long been a haven for ex-Formula 1 drivers. Names like Marcus Ericsson and Romain Grosjean have found success and revived their careers there, with Ericsson winning in the Indy 500 in 2022. Thanks to Mexico native Pato O’Ward’s efforts, IndyCar is becoming a hotbed of talent and international appeal. Despite these trends, Sergio Pérez has stated he has no interest in transitioning to IndyCar after his Formula 1 career is over.

Red Bull Racing’s 34-year-old driver recently extended his contract through 2026 with four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Due to a lackluster season and inconsistent results, fans and the media criticized Sergio Pérez’s new contract. His performance at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he finished sixth, did not prove to be encouraging as he followed it up with three finishes outside the top 10 in his next six races, with one DNF and one being as low as 17th place. For the season, Perez sits with five finishes outside the points, including three DNFs. When asked during a Honda event last week if he would consider a move to IndyCar after F1, Pérez responded unequivocally, “Not really, if I’m honest.”

After retiring from F1, Perez plans to prioritize family time after the demanding schedule of F1. “I think one of the reasons I’ll stop the day when I stop is because I’ve done it enough,” he explained. A dad of three, the Mexican driver looks forward to spending more time with his kids but is skeptical about finding the same level of satisfaction outside F1. Despite acknowledging IndyCar’s competitiveness, criticism followed.

“I really respect what they do in Indy, but the way I see it is like after [F1], I hope to finish my career without any injury,” Pérez said, highlighting the risks associated with oval racing. He then added a more controversial remark, “There are drivers that are not very experienced in the series, and doing those sorts of speeds and having that sort of impact is not something I’m willing to do.” Many fans and insiders interpreted his candid assessment of IndyCar’s safety risks and talent pool as dismissive of the series.

Although Pérez seems uninterested in a full-time IndyCar career, he hasn’t ruled out competing in other categories. Six-time F1 race winner, who won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2022, expressed interest in 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona. He hinted at a potential future in one-off endurance races, saying, “Doing one or two races a year—I think it’s something as a driver you’re going to be looking at very soon because it’s really hard to stop completely.” It’s unclear if he’s missing out on a unique opportunity or if the series would be better off without him.

Sergio Pérez faces mounting criticism in the IndyCar community

Throughout the IndyCar community, Sergio Pérez‘s struggles at Red Bull have become a lightning rod. Pérez himself admitted, “The problem I had earlier in the year is that I had a car that I couldn’t drive. I was just very uncomfortable with the car, and it was very hard driving into the corners not knowing what it was going to do.” The team has been criticized for its slow response to these concerns. The Red Bull engineers apologized after the Italian Grand Prix for not addressing car limitations earlier in the season, Pérez revealed in September.

Interestingly, he also claimed it wasn’t until Max Verstappen faced similar challenges that his complaints were validated-but the damage to his reputation had already been done. In September this year, Perez stated to the official F1 channel, “I really feel like I’m in the same boat as I’ve been in the last 10 races, but now, all of a sudden, Max has come to similar issues.“

Fans have been blunt in their criticism of Pérez’s performance, with one calling him a “slightly better Grosjean.” This comparison, though harsh, highlights frustrations over his inconsistency despite superior machinery. While Romain Grosjean had sporadic brilliance and frequent errors, Pérez’s longevity and key moments, like the clutch Sakhir Grand Prix win in 2020, put him in a different league.

One fan reflected the sentiment that Perez was missing out by not joining Indy Car, “His loss, then. It would be a better move than continuing to destroy his reputation in that Red Bull…” The Mexican’s reputation in F1 is certainly at an all-time low as he edges towards seeing his lowest points tally in his Red Bull tenure with 152 points after 22 races this season, and just 34 points in his last 11 races!

From a business perspective, his popularity, particularly in Mexico, is seen as a boon for Red Bull. “From a popularity standpoint, he’d be a great addition,” noted one person. Another added, “He’s making Red Bull money. Not sure any team here would be able to afford him.” With a $14 million salary and rumors of a potential performance clause-based reduction, many believe Pérez’s price tag still places him out of reach for most IndyCar teams.

The IndyCar community didn’t hold back on sarcasm with one person saying, “Oh no… Anyway.” This reflects skepticism about F1 drivers making the switch, especially lucrative ones. Some couldn’t resist poking fun at the challenges Pérez might’ve faced in IndyCar. “Bro doesn’t want to be the second-best Mexican on the grid,” one fan said, referring to Pato O’Ward’s dominance.