F1 News: Red Bull Chief Keeps Pressure On Sergio Perez - "Very Attractive For Other Drivers"

The pressure is on Sergio Perez in 2024 as his contract expiry looms.

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner has issued a stern warning to driver Sergio Perez about the upcoming 2024 Formula One season. Horner highlighted the need for improved performances, citing the team's readiness to explore other options if necessary.

Key Takeaways:

• Perez's Position at Risk: Despite retaining his seat for 2024, Sergio Perez faces uncertainty as Red Bull is known for mid-season driver changes. His performance in 2023 was considered underwhelming, raising questions about his future with the team.
• Horner's Expectations: Christian Horner has outlined specific areas for Perez to improve, particularly in qualifying sessions. As Verstappen’s teammate, Perez faces the challenge of closing the performance gap.
• Open Options for Red Bull: Red Bull has other interested drivers for the seat alongside Max Verstappen. However, Horner has left the door open for Perez to continue beyond 2024, contingent on his performance compared to Verstappen.

Christian Horner's comments to Sky Sports highlight the intense pressure Sergio Perez is under as he enters his fourth year with Red Bull. Horner noted the difficulty of being Max Verstappen's teammate, a role that demands exceptional mental strength. He commended Perez for handling this pressure but stressed the importance of improving his average qualifying positions. Horner's remarks suggest that Perez's ability to start races closer to Verstappen is crucial, especially in a potentially more competitive season.

Horner explained to Sky Sports' Craig Slater:

“Being Max Verstappen’s team-mate is a very, very tough gig. I think that he’s shown real mental strength to be able to cope with that.

“Now the area that he needs to focus on improving next year is going to be Saturdays. Making sure that his average qualifying is a lot closer to Max because we know he can race and he’s got great pace, but we need him to be starting further up the grid.

“Particularly if the grid is going to converge then we can’t afford to have a lot of cars between Max and Checo. The car has been very attractive for other drivers to want to be in so we’re not short of options.”

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Regarding interest from other drivers in Perez's seat, Horner acknowledged some level of interest but reiterated that the opportunity for Perez to stay beyond 2024 remains, depending on his performance. Horner's comments:

“Obviously there’s no guarantees of anything, but I think Checo [is] our driver in 2024. If he does a great job, we’ll want to keep him for ’25.

“But it’s all going to be about how he performs and how he delivers in relation to his team-mate.”

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