The key request from Sergio Perez in a new contract from Red Bull surrounds its length,ꦚ Helmut Marko෴ says.

Perez is into the final year o💞f his deal as Max Verstappen’s teammate and remains under s🎀crutiny.

Despite red🔯-hot form toไ begin the F1 2024 season, his future is constantly a topic of debate as other candidates are touted to replace him.

“As long as Checo is in such goo𒐪d form as he is now, and he comes with reasonable conditions for an extension, there is actually nothing agains🗹t him,” Red Bull’s Marko told .

Marko was asked what demands Perez is making, and whether the driver would even hav𓆉e to pay the team to secure his desire𒉰d drive.

Marko denied this, and said: “In♛ fact, he even brings Mexican sponsors with him.

“His demands ar🥀⛎e more about the length of the contract.”

Perez, now 34, is in his fourth year at Red Bull soꩵ a lengthy contract would tak𒅌e him into his late-30s.

It would al🔥so take him into the new era of F1 regulations which begin in 2026.

By contrast, Carlos Sꩲainz - one of the obvious options to replace Perez🐲 - is five years younger.

So Red Bull must consider whether they are just investing in the results that Perez is deliver🔴ing now, or the driver he will become as he gets older.

This season, the Mexican has scored three P2 fin🥂ishes behind Verstappen to give his team their dream result.

L🥃ast weekend he was third at the Chinese Grand Prix♉.

His control over the RB20 is arguably more impressive because the🐷 car is se🅺t up to Verstappen’s genius.

“Max always goes for the fastest setup,” Marko said🦩.

“Of course, this isn't always easy to drive.

“When a car is fastﷺ, it is restless and toxic. This is where the driving sk﷽ills come into play.

𒁃“That's why Max🉐 is always the fastest in the qualifying sessions.”

Verstappen’s own future remains up for discussion𓃲, with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff irking Red Bull last week in China by implying the F1ꦓ champion is on the market.

Christian Horner responded by 🌃insisting Verstappen is ꧑unavailable.

He reportedly has a clause in his contract allowing him to leav♏e if Marko also exits.

“Max will drive where he has ﷽the best ca🅰r and he has that at Red Bull,” Marko insisted.

“Nothing else is on the horizon.”