Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has acknowledged that Sergio Perez is fully aware of the implications of his poor form and is likely to make his own decision on his future in Formula One. Perez’s position at Red Bull has been under scrutiny for months, with his disappointing performances casting doubt on his continuation despite a contract for 2025.
There is speculation that an announcement regarding his future could come after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The Mexican driver is currently eighth in the championship standings, a disappointing result for a driver from a top team. Perez has failed to secure a victory this season, making him the only driver from the top four teams to do so. His score of 152 in 23 races pales in comparison to teammate Max Verstappen’s dominant 429 points, underlining the stark performance gap.
While Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive drivers’ title with 19 wins in 2024, Perez’s last podium finish was in April and he has not won a race since the same month in 2023. After a promising start to the 2024 season with three second places in the first four races, Perez’s performance has plummeted, scoring just 28 points in the last 10 races and failing to finish in the top six since the Miami Grand Prix in May.
Speaking to reporters, as quoted by Reuters, Horner said no one is forcing Perez one way or the other and the team is focused on supporting the Mexican at the Abu Dhabi GP. The Red Bull boss said a decision on Perez will be made after the Abu Dhabi GP.
‘I’m going to let Checo (Perez) come to his own conclusions, nobody is going to force him one way or the other,‘ Horner told reporters after Perez pulled out of the Qatar Grand Prix and Red Bull’s slim hopes of defending the constructors’ title ended. ‘We’re very focused on supporting him all the way to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, and then obviously it’s not a pleasant situation for Checo to be in this position with speculation every week.
‘He is big enough and wise enough to know what the situation is, and yes, let’s see where we are after Abu Dhabi.’
If Red Bull opts for a replacement, New Zealander Liam Lawson seems to be the favourite after an impressive substitute performance earlier in the season.
Other names in contention include Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto, although his series of incidents with Williams may have weakened his case. In addition, Red Bull could consider promoting Franco-Algerian Isack Hadjar, who is in contention for the Formula 2 title, potentially pairing him with Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri if Lawson is promoted to the senior team.
Leave a comment