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Sergio Perez has replaced Alexander Albon at the Red Bull Formula One team
Albon has been dropped to the role of reserve driver and work in the simulator
Perez enjoyed a strong end to the season with Racing Point, winning Bahrain GP

Published: 04:45 EDT, 18 December 2020 | Updated: 09:14 EDT, 18 December 2020

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Sergio Perez has joined Red Bull Racing for next season and replaced Alexander Albon.

The Mexican had signed on a one-year contract to replace the 24-year-old and completes the team's line up alongside Max Verstappen.

Red Bull said in a statement: 'Current driver Alex Albon remains an important member of the Team and takes on the role of Red Bull Racing Test and Reserve Driver with a key focus on 2022 development, simulator work and tyre testing.'

Sergio Perez has replaced Alexander Albon at the Red Bull Formula One team next season

Albon (left) has been dropped to the role of reserve driver and work in the simulator

Team CEO Christian Horner added: 'Alex is a valued member of the Team and we thought long and hard about this decision.

'Having taken our time to evaluate all the relevant data and performances we have decided that Sergio is the right driver to partner Max for 2021 and look forward to welcoming him to Red Bull Racing.'

Perez enjoyed a strong end to the season with Racing Point, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix with a superb performance fighting his way from the back of the grid following a first lap collision with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Verstappen.

His achievements are made even more impressive given that his season was disrupted by a positive covid-19 result, which saw him miss two races at Britain's Silverstone circuit.

However, the 30-year-old lost his seat on the team - which is now named Aston Martin - for the 2021 season to four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Lance Stroll, son of the team owner Lawrence, kept his seat after a strong season of his own, achieving two podiums and a pole position.

Perez enjoyed a strong end to the season with Racing Point, winning the Bahrain Grand Prix

Perez will take the place of Albon at Red Bull, who has struggled to keep up with his team-mate Max Verstappen, with the Dutch driver winning two races and finishing third overall.

The 30-year-old Perez, the first Mexican to win a grand prix in 50 years, finished fourth. He had indicated he would take a sabbatical next year if he failed to find another F1 seat.

Japan's Yuki Tsunoda is the latest to make a big move onto the F1 grid for 2021 and signed for Red Bull's Alpha Tauri team, replacing Daniil Kvyat.