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Perez And Red Bull Agree To End Contract Early

Perez And Red Bull Agree To End Contract Early

Sergio Perez is to leave Red Bull two years before the end of his contract after reaching a termination agreement with the team.

The move comes after a weak season for the Mexican, who failed to win a race and finished on the podium only four times as team-mate Max Verstappen won his fourth world title.

Perez, who has essentially been sacked, said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team.

“Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together.”

Perez, 34, is expected to be replaced by 22-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson, in a promotion from the sister Racing Bulls team.

Lawson, who drove six races at the end of 2024 and five during 2023, is said to have been told he would be promoted before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar, who finished second in Formula 2 this season, is expected to join Racing Bulls alongside Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, who has been overlooked by Red Bull for a seat in the senior team.

In Abu Dhabi, Perez expressed his concern for an inexperienced driver being put in alongside Verstappen.

“Being team-mates with Max at Red Bull as a young driver, I wouldn’t like to be in those shoes, if I’m honest,” Perez said.

“People cannot underestimate the level of challenge that there is in this seat.”

Although Red Bull had already decided to ditch Perez, he was reluctant to leave and his management sought the best possible compensation agreement before acquiescing.

The team said “announcements regarding the team’s full 2025 line-up will be made in due course”.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: “I would like to thank Checo [Perez] for all he has done for Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons.

“From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first one-two finish in the drivers’ championship.

“While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history.”

“It’s been an absolute pleasure driving alongside you,” Verstappen posted on social media.

“We’ve had some amazing moments together that I’ll always remember.”

Red Bull’s decision to drop Perez raises questions about the decision-making of Horner, who made the decision in May to sign him until the end of 2026.

The move came at the start of a slump in form from Perez – which echoed a similar decline in 2023 – and Horner said the intention was to allow him to recover his confidence.

But Perez’s performances did not improve. He took his final podium in the fifth race of the season in China and after finishing fourth at the following race in Miami, his best result was a sixth place in the Netherlands.

His one highlight for the remainder of the season was a strong performance in Azerbaijan, where he was on course for a podium finish before a late crash with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Perez’s inability to get close to Verstappen’s performances was a significant factor in Red Bull losing the constructors’ championship.

They finished third behind McLaren and Ferrari, despite Verstappen’s nine victories. McLaren took six wins between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Ferrari five with Charles Leclerc and Sainz.

Horner re-signed Perez – giving him a two-year extension that seemed inexplicable to many in F1 – rather than taking Sainz, who is being replaced at Ferrari next season by Lewis Hamilton.

The basis for the decision was the tension that existed between the Verstappen and Sainz camps when the drivers were paired at Red Bull’s junior team in 2015 and early 2016.

But Verstappen’s father Jos Verstappen said he had never expressed a preference for Sainz not to rejoin Red Bull.

Perez took five victories for Red Bull, one in 2021, and two each in 2022 and 2023, but was able to get close to Verstappen only for the first four races of 2023.

However, he was instrumental in Verstappen winning his first world title in 2021.

His aggressive defence against Hamilton at the season finale in Abu Dhabi allowed Verstappen to close back up to the seven-time champion in the middle of the race.

That meant when the decisive late safety-car period happened, Hamilton did not have a sufficient gap to pit for fresh tyres while also retaining the race lead, which he likely would have had Perez not blocked him for so long.

That meant he was vulnerable to Verstappen, who did stop for fresh rubber.

Race director Michael Masi started the race for one final lap, having ignored the rules governing a safety car period in two different ways, and Verstappen, on fresh tyres, was able to pass Hamilton, ensuring he rather than the Mercedes driver won the championship.

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Dmitry Bivol Wants Revenge Over Belts, Reveals Why He’s Turning To Psychology Books

Dmitry Bivol Wants Revenge Over Belts, Reveals Why He's Turning To Psychology Books

Dmitry Bivol is more than just one of the most technically gifted boxers in the world. He’s a man constantly evolving—both as a fighter and as a person.

His journey to the top of the light heavyweight division hasn’t been without its challenges, but it’s shaped him into the disciplined and introspective athlete he is today.

Ahead of his highly-anticipated rematch with Artur Beterbiev, Mail Sport had the chance to sit down with Bivol during his training camp in Turkey, where he shared insights into his mental preparation, the lessons he learned from his first fight with Beterbiev, and how he’s balancing the weight of his ambition with his desire for perfection.

Heading into Bivol’s gym, the word UNDISPUTED is boldly printed above the entrance and again on the back wall, an ever-present reminder of the goal he’s working toward. Inside, the atmosphere is light but focused—before each session, Bivol jokes around with his team, creating a good vibe in camp. It’s a stark contrast to the intensity that follows when training begins.

His walls are lined with pictures of boxing greats—Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard— icons of the sport whose legacies serve as daily motivation. They look down as he perfects the Soviet boxing style that has defined his career.

Mentally, Bivol has always been an introspective individual. He’s someone who understands the power of the mind, and over the years, he’s honed his mental strength as much as his physical conditioning.

‘I used to read psychology books to understand the mind,’ Bivol reveals. ‘It helped me understand the thoughts I was having during training and fights, and it’s something I focus on more now—having power over my thoughts.’

This focus on mental clarity is key to his approach to fighting. After a gruelling training session, Bivol takes time to clear his mind, lying on the canvas in the pitch black to relax his muscles and let go of any lingering thoughts.

‘I try to empty my mind, to think about nothing. It’s hard, but it’s necessary after a long day of training,’ he explains. The process is as much about mental recovery as it is physical, and it’s an essential part of his routine as he prepares for Beterbiev.

Bivol’s approach to boxing has always been about duty—his commitment to discipline and excellence. But over the years, his perspective has shifted, and he now finds more satisfaction in his work.

‘Year by year, I become more focused on enjoying what I do. It’s become my lifestyle. I enjoy it for myself,’ he shares. However, that enjoyment doesn’t come without sacrifice.

Reflecting on his first fight with Beterbiev, Bivol remains remarkably calm and analytical. While the bout was competitive, he feels there were moments where he could have performed better.

‘I controlled the fight for most of it, even when I was moving back. I felt in control,’ Bivol recalls. ‘But I didn’t act how I should have to impress the judges. I should have been more active, throwing more punches in the later rounds.’

Bivol is not someone who shies away from self-assessment, acknowledging that his inability to maintain his activity in the final rounds contributed to his defeat. But his mindset remains pragmatic: ‘I don’t think about the loss too much. I just focus on doing everything right this time. I know what I have to improve.’

Meanwhile, his coach Gennady Mashianov jokes all Bivol needs is ‘better judges that can be more objective when scoring the fight.’

 

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Gilas Ends Doha Stint With 31-Point Loss To Egypt

Gilas Ends Doha Stint With 31-Point Loss To Egypt

Gilas Pilipinas suffered back-to-back losses to end its campaign in the Doha International Cup on Monday (Manila time).

Seeking a bounce-back win following a 21-point defeat to Lebanon on Sunday, Gilas got whipped by a balanced Egypt side, 86-55, instead at QU Sports & Events Complex in Qatar.

Justin Brownlee scored a team-high 18 points but had little help with no other Gilas player hitting double digits. Carl Tamayo chipped in nine points.

Egypt, which was crowned champions in the four-team tournament after going undefeated, took control in the second quarter and never let up led by Ehab Amin’s 20 points and eight assists.

Gilas struggled on offense anew, shooting just 37 percent from the field while committing as many turnovers as assists with 16.

The Philippines tries to return to its winning ways when it visits Chinese Taipei on February 20 and New Zealand on February 23 to wrap up the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Gilas has already punched a ticket to the Asia Cup set this August in Saudi Arabia after winning its first four qualifying games in Group B.

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Mike Tyson Responds Parkinson’s Claims By Jake Paul

Mike Tyson Responds Parkinson's Claims By Jake Paul

A representative for Mike Tyson has come forward to refute Jake Paul’s claim that the 58-year- old boxing legend was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, as reported by Express.co.uk.

Tyson’s highly anticipated return to the ring in November saw him face off against the social media personality turned boxer.

Although many believed the former world champion could turn back the clock, his age became apparent on fight night. Tyson’s performance began to decline after the second round, and he failed to land any significant blows for the remainder of the bout.

Despite not securing a knockout, Paul coasted to a unanimous decision victory in Texas. In a recent conversation with Adin Ross, Paul shocked the boxing world by claiming that Tyson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s but was ‘cured’ by smoking toad.

“Ayahuasca is really good for your brain as well. And same with toad! Toad cured Tyson’s Parkinson’s so that he could come back and fight.” When asked to explain how it worked, Paul replied, “You smoke it.”

His comments quickly went viral online, prompting Paul to clarify the situation on social media. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the 28-year-old social media sensation wrote: “Bruh…Mike Tyson didn’t have no Parkinsons..WTF. Why the f*** is the internet so stupid for. I misspoke. Meant he used toad to heal his pain. He has spoken about it many times. Just like I do. Just like many do.”

In response to Paul’s remarks, representatives for Tyson have refuted claims that the former heavyweight world champion is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

“Mike is happy and perfectly healthy. He doesn’t have Parkinson’s or any other illness,” a spokesperson for the 58-year-old informed TMZ. While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, various treatments are available to alleviate symptoms, including supportive therapies such as physiotherapy, medication, and surgery.

Last month, Tyson expressed concern about his recovery from the Paul fight, telling the New York Post: “I feel pretty good. I don’t know if I’m 100 per cent recovered, but I feel good.”

In December, the boxing veteran confessed he couldn’t recall much of the bout though: “I don’t remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out. I haven’t watched the fight. You know what I remember… coming back from the first round and Jake was doing some sort of bow… that’s the last thing I remember.”

He continued: “I wasn’t tired, I wasn’t sweaty. I went to the house we were staying in, I left the house with my wife and kids, went to the after-party then went back.”

 

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