Helmut Marko addresses Sergio Perez retirement talk and fires six-word ultimatum

has told that 'he has to improve his performance' to avoid being replaced at the end of the season but denied that the experienced Mexican was planning on announcing his retirement from the sport at his home race next weekend.

Perez headed into the United States Grand Prix batting off rumours of a premature Red Bull exit come the end of the season, but his plight was worsened by the performance of - the man most likely to replace him for 2025.

The young New Zealander made his return to the grid after replacing Daniel Ricciardo in the aftermath of the Singapore Grand Prix and was immediately hit with a 60-place grid penalty that resigned him to a start on the back row on Sunday.

This did little to deter the 22-year-old though. He cut through the field with brutal efficiency, climbing from 19th to ninth place at the chequered flag, giving two vital points in their tense battle with Haas over P6 in the Constructors' Championship.

Perez, meanwhile, had an afternoon to forget. He stumbled across the line in P7, finishing behind George Russell who started from the pit lane, and served a five-second time penalty. .

According to Marko, he doesn't plan to walk away though. "It's a rumour [that he will announce retirement in Mexico," he said. "He himself says there is no truth in it. Let's see, but he has to improve his performance."

The Austrian advisor was not shy in his praise for the man who could replace Perez either. "A really great debut [for Lawson]," he told Sky Germany.

"That was already apparent in Q1, where he drove the third fastest time. He was in control at all times and had great overtaking manoeuvres. You have to put the youngsters in the car and then it works. He is definitely a man for the future."

Perez is unlikely to roll over though. Speaking to ahead of the United States GP, he revealed: "I had an opportunity, two opportunities, to change teams. When I looked at it, I thought, I really love the challenge I have at Red Bull.

"It's a massive challenge being Max's teammate. It's a challenge that basically trains you for all of it. So I said, I want to spend my last part of my career at the top, at the very top, where the pressure, it's full-on."