Red Bull F1 News: Christian Horner Admits He Couldn't Watch Sergio Perez's Race - 'Had My Eyes Shut'

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has confessed to closing his eyes during parts of Sergio Perez's intense race at the Japanese Grand Prix. Perez's daring manoeuvres throughout the event had Horner on edge, despite the driver's successful finish.

Key Takeaways:

• Sergio Perez showcased exceptional skill at the Japanese Grand Prix, narrowly missing pole position but securing a commendable second place, contributing to another Red Bull 1-2 finish.
• Despite facing challenges, including falling to fourth place at one point, Perez executed some spectacular overtakes to climb back up the ranks.
• Christian Horner praised Perez's performance but admitted to watching some of the race's high-tension moments with his eyes shut, particularly during Perez's risky moves at the high-speed 130R corner.

Sergio Perez turned heads at the Japanese Grand Prix with a performance that has helped solidify his role within the Red Bull family. His boldness on the track led Christian Horner to comment in awe of his driver's daring tactics. The Mexican was just a hair's breadth away from beating his teammate Max Verstappen to pole position, marking his first front-row start in almost a year. His efforts didn't stop there; Perez converted his qualifying success into a solid race-day performance, finishing second - the third time this season.

This achievement didn't come easily for Perez. He had to navigate through significant challenges, particularly when he dropped to fourth behind McLaren's Lando Norris and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. However, Perez's resolve shone through as he reclaimed his position with some masterful overtakes, notably on the inside of the iconic but daunting 130R. This move, while spectacular, had Horner watching through gritted teeth, concerned for his driver's safety but ultimately impressed by his skill and audacity.

"I thought Checo in particular has had a strong weekend," Horner reflected. "To qualify within a tenth of his team-mate here.

“Race pace was strong obviously, he had the disadvantage of having to come back through the traffic.

“There were a couple of moments where, I must admit, I had my eyes shut as he went into 130R… do you need to do it there? Can’t you wait until the straight?

“He didn’t look like he had three kids when he made that move!”

Perez's performance at Suzuka was a stark contrast to his previous visit, where he struggled considerably. The change in his fortune can be attributed to a newfound focus on renewing his contract with the Milton Keynes squad while also staying consistent in his car setups. This new strategy, along with a high level of confidence and comfort within the team, has positioned Perez strongly within the team and the drivers' standings, where he is currently second, just 13 points behind Verstappen.

“I think his confidence is high, he’s very focused on the job at hand, and he’s comfortable in the team,” Horner added.

“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.”

The topic of Perez's future with Red Bull has been a strong point of discussion. With his contract set to expire at the end of this season, both Perez and the team's advisor, Helmut Marko, have hinted that his current performance momentum could be a pivotal factor in his contract negotiations.