Red Bull Racing have confirmed that Sergio Perez will no longer drive for the Milton Keynes-based team.
Perez leaves Red Bull after four seasons together, with an agreement to release the Mexican driver from his contract announced today (18/12) after several weeks of speculation that he was set to leave the team.
The 34-year-old has been dropped despite initially signing a contract extension in June for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with a long period of poor form seeing his position ultimately become untenable and the team decide to drop him.
Red Bull has not confirmed who it will replace Perez with. It is strongly rumoured that Liam Lawson is set to earn a promotion from Red Bull’s second team VCARB to replace him, although team-mate Yuki Tsunoda did impress the team in a test at Abu Dhabi after the final race of the 2024 season. French driver, Red Bull junior and Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar is reportedly set to be promoted to fill the seat of whichever one of Tsunoda or Lawson moves into the senior Red Bull Racing squad.
Perez had won five races for Red Bull, winning one race in 2021 and two each in 2022 and 2023, as part of 29 podiums overall after joining the team from Racing Point. He finished fourth in the driver’s championship in his first season with the team, third in his second and second in his third.
But poor form saw him finish in eighth place in 2024, finishing 285 points behind world champion team-mate Max Verstappen, with many seeing this form as the reason why Red Bull only finished third in the Constructor’s Championship, 77 points behind champions McLaren.
The Mexican failed to score a podium after the fifth race of the season, managing only two finishes in the top six after that race in China and only one after F1’s summer break.
In a statement published by Red Bull, he said, “I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle 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. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.
“A big thank you to every person in the Team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future. It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success.
“A special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember…Never give up.”
Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing, added, “I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle 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 1-2 finish in the Drivers’ championship. His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit. 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. Thank you, Checo.”
Northampton Town have confirmed the departure of Martyn Waghorn after the club and player agreed to mutual termination of his contract.
The 34-year-old had initially joined the Cobblers in early November on a free transfer after being released by his prior club Derby County, with Waghorn scoring once in 8 appearances for the club. His goal came in an EFL Trophy match against Burton last month.
Northampton interim manager Ian Sampson told the club in an official statement that he was happy with Waghorn’s work but that the time for a separation had now come.
He said, “Martyn came in and helped us through the last few weeks. All parties have now agreed to terminate the contract and we thank Martyn for his time with the club and we wish Martyn and his family all the very best for the future.
“He is a first class character and a good man and we have enjoyed having him in the dressing room.”
Waghorn himself added, “I have enjoyed my albeit short time with Northampton Town. This is a good club and I thank everyone for making me so welcome. I wish everyone involved all the very best for the future.”
A former Thames Valley Police officer has been sentenced after he was convicted of misconduct in a public office in Milton Keynes.
Adam Jones, 40, of Monkston, formally based at Milton Keynes police station, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of one count of holding of a public office and wilfully neglecting to perform duty/wilfully misconducting himself.
He was also found guilty by majority jury verdict of three further counts of holding of a public office and wilfully neglecting to perform duty/wilfully misconducted himself, following a six-day trial at Reading Crown Court which concluded on Friday 9 December.
Returning to the same court on Monday (16/12), Jones was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment.
Between January 2013 and August 2021, Jones committed wilful misconducted by contacting three different women on occasions when there were no policing purpose for him to do so and seeking by such contact to pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship.
Former PC Jones resigned from Thames Valley Police on 14 September 2022, and was later charged by postal requisition in September 2023 following an investigation by his former employer.
Thames Valley Police Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs, said, “I am pleased with the outcome in this case, which reflects former PC Jones’s totally unacceptable behaviour.
“His actions have no place in policing and this outcome reflects our commitment to take decisive action in such circumstances and uphold the trust and confidence of the communities we serve.
“Prior to these criminal proceedings, former PC Jones attended an accelerated misconduct hearing and John Campbell QPM, the then Chief Constable, determined that if he had not resigned, he would have been dismissed from Thames Valley Police.
“Our communities put their trust in us to use the personal information we hold on police systems lawfully, legitimately and appropriately. The public has a right to expect that police officers act with the utmost integrity and professionalism all day, every day.
“As this case demonstrates, where they do not, I am clear that they will face the consequences of their actions.”
Milton Keynes Theatre has revealed details of a line-up of shows coming to its stage for the spring season in the early stages of 2025.
A mix of shows including musicals, comedy, drama, plays and more can be expected at the venue in 2025, with plenty of shows booked in the months ahead.
This season starts with the final performances of Milton Keynes Theatre’s yearly pantomime, which is currently playing at the venue.
The current Christmas pantomime is Peter Pan, including Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood in a starring role, and which opened earlier this month.
Musicals coming to the venue Olivier, Tony® & Grammy® award-winning Dear Evan Hansen, legendary Rock’n’roll musical The Rocky Horror Show (starring Adam Strong), and the Northampton-set musical Kinky Boots (which stars Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe and rising star Dan Partridge).
During March and April, Milton Keynes will also host two of the hottest musical productions currently touring across the UK.
The theatre will host Only Fools & Horses The Musical, which is an adaptation based on the much-loved TV show of the 80s, and following that, the new musical & Juliet makes its debut at MK Theatre, following the Shakespeare heroine’s new life after Romeo.
Multiple music-based one-night performances will also be held at MK Theatre, including Queen of the Night – A Tribute to Whitney Houston, Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman, The Illegal Eagles, and Anton Du Beke – At the Musicals.
Drama fans will be catered for with plays coming to Milton Keynes over the next few months. Ghost Stories is a horror story based around a theatrical experience to keep attendees tense throughout. Alternatively, the theatre will host a classic whodunit in the form of Murder on the Orient Express, which is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel.
Families can enjoy two shows by Horrible Histories live on stage, with both Awful Egyptians and Terrible Tudors coming this February. Meanwhile, those who are looking for a more mature evening at the theatre can take in Buffy Revamped, which brings a satirical take on the iconic TV show to Milton Keynes for one night only.
Milton Keynes Theatre will also welcome A-List comedians for an evening of standup, with the likes of Milton Jones, Jimmy Carr, Jason Manford, Jack Dee, and Paul Chowdhry coming to the venue.
Dance fans in Milton Keynes also have multiple things for them coming up. Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana will bring a festive flavour to the stage, while Strictly fans can look forward to the return of Giovanni Pernice with The Last Dance.
Later in the season, avant-garde South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn brings her newest production, Dragons, to local audiences. Finally, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake returns in April, with the theatre hosting the latest presentation of the most successful dance theatre production of all time.
The Spring season concludes with the return of War Horse, based on the unforgettable novel by Michael Morpurgo and centred around life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.
The rest of 2025 promises even more brilliant productions, including Picture You Dead, An Inspector Calls, The Girl on the Train, Bat Out of Hell, Calamity Jane, and many more.
Find out more and book your tickets at ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes.
Willen Hospice is setting its sights on raising an ambitious £185,000 this December through its biggest ever Christmas appeal.
The Milton Keynes-based charity will see all donations made to the charity until the end of December – or until the matched funding pot runs out – be doubled thanks to the generosity of local donors pledging to match every pound raised by the community.
Willen Hospice says this opportunity has been made possible by a group of passionate local philanthropists who have collectively committed to matching donations in the hope that it will inspire more people to give.
“Mary, my late wife, and I were immensely grateful for the wonderful support we received from the Willen at Home team before she died in January 2007,” says Michael Willis, one of the donors who is matching gifts this December.
“They made it possible for Mary to stay at home, where she always wanted to be, and say goodbye to close friends and family in her own way and in her own time. The reality is that hospitals are not equipped to provide decent end-of-life care. It would be tragic in so many ways if the Hospice was forced to cut back the Willen at Home service.”
Earlier in December, the Hospice was honoured to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, which also matched public donations. Thanks to overwhelming support, the £35,000 target was achieved in just five days, representing an incredible start to the charity’s appeal.
All funds raised through the Christmas appeal will directly support Willen at Home. This dedicated team work 365 days a year providing expert care to local patients with a life-limiting illness, like Mary, who wish to remain in the comfort of their own home. Willen at Home’s specialist nurses help patients to live well until they die, by easing symptoms, giving medication advice and providing emotional support.
While £185,000 is a substantial target, the Willen at Home service alone costs £1.4 million a year to run and receives no NHS funding. This creates a significant gap that the Hospice must bridge by depending on the local community to take part in fundraising and buy from its charity shops.
To make a donation that will be doubled, visit www.willen-hospice.org.uk/christmas. Donations will be doubled until 31 December or until the matched funding pot runs out, whichever is sooner.
