Red Bull team principal Christian Horner addressed Sergio Perez’s future with the team following the Japanese Grand Prix, where the Mexican driver finished second behind his dominant teammate and reigning champion, Max Verstappen. Unsurprisingly, there is “a significant amount of interest” in a seat with the Austrian team, according to Horner, putting pressure on the Mexican driver to defend his position in the team.
Speaking to the press, Horner conveyed his confidence in Perez, whose current contract with the team expires at the end of the 2024 season. He commented, as quoted by ESPN:
“I think his confidence is high, he’s very focused on the job at hand, and he’s comfortable in the team. And he knows he’s out of contract for next year, it’s his seat to lose, he’s very popular in the team, and he’s started the season in the best possible way. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.”
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The dynamics of the driver market have been particularly turbulent this year, with movements and speculations starting unusually early. However, Horner stresses that Red Bull is not feeling pressured to make quick decisions regarding their lineup. Horner continued:
“The whole driver market seems to be very early this year.
“Everybody seems to be rushing around and we’re only four races into the year. We’re not in a huge rush and obviously there’s a significant amount of interest in our cars, as you would expect, but Checo [Sergio Perez] has the priority and it’s going to be a few more races yet before we start to think about next year.”
After a challenging 2023 where he struggled to match the pace of his teammate Verstappen, Perez has rebounded impressively. This year, he has consistently finished on the podium, including three second-place finishes behind Verstappen, apart from the troublesome Australian Grand Prix. His performance is a stark contrast to the previous year’s difficulties and signifies a return to form that could be crucial in Red Bull’s deliberations over his future.
The speculation around Perez’s seat has been further fueled by the movements of other drivers in the paddock. Lewis Hamilton’s announced move to Ferrari in 2025 has set off a chain reaction. The seven-time champion’s move has left current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz without a seat for 2025, and as the only non-Red Bull driver to secure a victory since George Russell’s 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix win, the Spanish driver is sure to be in high demand for next year.
Therefore, it is no surprise that Sainz has been linked to a move to Red Bull for 2025. Despite this, Horner claims that it’s Perez’s seat to lose, and recent performances, including a nearly identical qualifying time to Verstappen at Suzuka, underline his credentials and commitment to retaining his seat.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.