Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez has a career-defining season coming up this year. He is in the last year of his contract with the drink-based outfit, and an extension is subject to his performance in the next nine months. Having said that, the 2023 season challenged Checo in many ways.
He got outqualified not only by his teammate Max Verstappen but also by Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren drivers who were driving a relatively slower car. Needless to say, the awful gap to Verstappen in the championship standing invited intense scrutiny. Meanwhile, with Perez’s seat and career on the line, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner opened up on what the future has in store for an under-pressure Checo.
Christian Horner Believes Sergio Perez In The Right Fit In Red Bull Despite 2023 Season Horror Show!
With only one year left on his contract with Red Bull, Sergio Perez finished second in the championship standing. But the gap to his teammate, Max Verstappen, soared to 200+ points. Not only that, Checo’s miscues in qualifying and getting outperformed by drivers with slower cars than RB20 further put the Mexican driver in the whirlwind of criticism. Moreover, towards the end of the season, speculation of Checo losing his seat for the 2024 season gained momentum for obvious reasons. However, team principal Christian Horner seemingly endorsed Sergio Perez in a recent interview with Planet F1.
Horner said that Sergio Perez will remain Red Bull’s second driver in the 2024 season. He is on the team because Horner believes that Checo is the right fit. The team principal saw some potential in the Mexican driver and firmly believes he can turn things around this year. However, Horner didn’t rule out chances of a change in scenery sometime in the future. The Englishman says it’s Checo’s job to prove his worth and showcase why he deserves to be given an opportunity to drive a popular RB series in the future. Horner also added that Red Bull has an extensive pool of talent in Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda, who are eager to grab the big opportunity. Thus, Christian Horner confirmed his support for Checo but also warned him of the consequences of substandard performance.
Christian Horner Advices Checo To Prioritize Saturdays!
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes the grid will converge next season as competitors are gaining an edge in lap time this winter. Thus, he warned a struggling Sergio Perez to focus on qualifying sessions. Horner urged Checo to prioritize Saturday and try to finish closer to Max Verstappen. “We can’t afford to have a lot of cars between Max and Checo,” said Horner.
In 2023, Sergio Perez failed to qualify for Q2 four times in a row. Moreover, the Mexican driver was constantly outperformed by rival teams, which further messed with his confidence. Thus, going ahead into the pivotal F1 season, the Red Bull team principal insists Checo enforces these changes to produce a comeback. Overall, the 2024 F1 season can literally make or break Checo’s motorsport career, given how he reacts to the challenges and pressure.
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