F1 News: Christian Horner Speaks Out On Sergio Perez's Future With Red Bull
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed that Sergio Perez could consider a contract extension with Red Bull beyond 2024 if he continues to "deliver" P2 finishes this season behind Max Verstappen.
Key Takeaways:
- Red Bull team principal Christian Horner suggests that Sergio Perez's consistent performance in securing second-place finishes behind Max Verstappen could lead to a contract extension beyond 2024.
- Perez's role in supporting Verstappen's title defence is emphasized amid high demand for Red Bull's seat beside Verstappen for the next season, with expectations that Perez continues to back up his teammate.
- Horner praises Perez's performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix, highlighting his swift overtaking from fifth on the grid and emphasizing the importance of winning races, regardless of the margin of victory.
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Horner suggested that Perez's efforts to secure second place and impede competitors from challenging teammate Max Verstappen in first place are in line with expectations for him in 2024. The team principal did not set a higher standard for the Mexican driver, such as winning a race.
Perez is one of the 13 drivers in Formula 1 whose contracts expire this year. Consequently, there is significant competition for the seat alongside Verstappen at Red Bull next year, making it a priority for Perez to support Verstappen's title defence.
When asked after the Bahrain GP if Perez has other targets to fulfill this year to secure his seat, Horner told the media:
“There’s no set criteria.
“He’s got to do enough to earn that seat and, days like today, he’s done exactly what he’s got to deliver.”
Horner also praised Perez for starting in P5 and swiftly overtaking rivals to finish behind Verstappen. When asked if the margin of victory has doubled for the Dutchman compared to last year, Horner said:
“Look, everything’s relative, isn’t it?
“Checo [Perez] came from P5, Max was obviously managing the race as many drivers are managing different tyres at different times.
“It’s not a question of how much you win by, it’s a question about winning. We won today, Max dominated the race and was in a class of his own.
“Checo drove an outstanding race as well, coming through the field from fifth on the grid. Fastest lap – I think the back end of the race was exaggerated by the offset of tyres that we carried in.
“I’m surprised that others didn’t carry softs into the race when it was clearly, in these conditions, the better tyre to have.”