Horner opens up on Perez’s exit from Red Bull…Read more
Horner opens up on Perez’s exit from Red Bull as he says it was Mexican’s decision to ‘TAKE TIME OUT’
Christian Horner has provided additional details about Sergio Perez’s departure from Red Bull, stating that the Mexican driver made the decision to step away himself to reflect on his next steps.
The announcement comes after a season filled with challenges for Perez, whose performance declined as the year progressed despite a promising start.
Perez had signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull in June, but speculation about his future with the team grew as his struggles became more apparent.
Ultimately, it was announced after the season concluded that Perez and the team mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.
Rising talent Liam Lawson will step up to partner Max Verstappen for the 2025 season.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Horner acknowledged the difficult internal discussions Perez must have had before making this decision.
He praised Perez for his contributions to the team, highlighting his key role in securing the 2021 Drivers’ Championship and the 2022 and 2023 Constructors’ Championships.
Horner also noted Perez’s achievements, including finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship in 2023 and winning five Grands Prix with Red Bull.
“Checo has been a fantastic member of this team,” Horner said. “It’s been a tough year for him, but he’s a great person and has played such an important role in our success over the years.
He reflected after the season, and when we sat down last week, he decided to take some time out to spend with his young family and consider his future.”
When asked whether Perez’s contract extension earlier in the year was aimed at boosting his confidence, Horner confirmed that it was.
At the time, Perez had achieved four podium finishes in five races, making the extension a logical move to dispel growing speculation.
However, Horner clarified that the decision for Perez to step away was unrelated to the contract, which included performance clauses.
Perez finished the 2024 season in eighth place in the Drivers’ Championship, 285 points behind Verstappen.
Red Bull, meanwhile, lost the Constructors’ Championship, finishing third behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Horner expressed disappointment at Perez’s season, noting the significant gap in points between him and Verstappen.
He admitted that the team still does not fully understand why Perez struggled so much as the season went on.
“The car’s performance window became narrower, and Checo struggled to adapt compared to Max,” Horner explained.
“This created a significant points gap, which added more pressure on him. Sometimes, the harder you try, the slower you go. It became a vicious circle for him.
While there were flashes of his old form, such as in Azerbaijan, those moments didn’t translate into consistent results.”
Horner also addressed whether a move to Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, had been considered for Perez.
He stated that such an option was not discussed, given the stage of Perez’s career.
The focus, instead, was on supporting Perez’s decision to step away.
“At this point in his career, moving to AlphaTauri wouldn’t have made sense for Checo.
It was never something we seriously considered,” Horner said. “He’s decided to take this sabbatical, and we fully support him.”
Perez’s departure marks the end of an era at Red Bull, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s success during his tenure.
As Perez steps back to evaluate his future, Red Bull looks ahead with Liam Lawson joining Verstappen in 2025.
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