Horner issues statement following....

Horner issues statement following….read more

Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has issued a statement following the official departure of Sergio Perez, one of the team’s prominent drivers. This marks the end of Perez’s four-year tenure with the Milton Keynes-based team, which had begun with much promise but ultimately fizzled out in the latter part of the 2024 Formula 1 season. His exit, confirmed this week, comes after months of speculation regarding his future at Red Bull.

Despite signing a new contract for the 2024 season, Perez’s performance took a significant downturn, particularly during the second half of the year. Over the last 18 races of 2024, the Mexican driver accumulated only 49 points, a stark contrast to his earlier success. This dramatic dip in form played a major role in Red Bull’s failure to secure the Constructors’ Championship title, a crown they had dominated for several years. Teams like McLaren and Ferrari were quick to capitalize on Perez’s struggles, helping them close the gap in the standings.

In light of this, Red Bull has decided to part ways with Perez as they look to reclaim their position as the dominant force in Formula 1. One of the key factors in their decision was Perez’s inability to deliver consistent results, especially when compared to his teammate Max Verstappen, who continued to deliver top-tier performances throughout the season. Perez’s lack of form was a significant concern for the team, which had been hoping to maintain a strong second driver to complement Verstappen’s championship-winning efforts.

In contrast, Red Bull has opted to promote Liam Lawson to the position alongside Verstappen for the 2025 season. Lawson, a New Zealand-born driver, had been a part of Red Bull’s driver development program and had already shown promise during his stints with the team’s sister outfit, AlphaTauri. Although Lawson scored points on just two occasions during his time at AlphaTauri, his performances were enough to attract the attention of Horner and the senior Red Bull management. His potential and racing abilities clearly impressed the team, making him a strong candidate to replace Perez.

Horner took to social media to officially announce the news, expressing his excitement about Lawson’s promotion. In a post on his Instagram, Horner welcomed Lawson to the team, highlighting the driver’s natural talent and resilience. “I’m delighted to welcome @LiamLawson30 to the Team, completing our driver line-up alongside @MaxVerstappen1 for the 2025 season,” Horner wrote. He continued, praising Lawson’s performances with the sister team, noting that the young driver had proven he was not only capable of delivering strong results but also demonstrated a competitive edge, never shying away from challenging the best drivers in the field.

Horner also emphasized that Lawson’s promotion continued Red Bull’s tradition of fostering talent from within its Junior Team program, a path previously taken by other successful drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Lawson’s rise within the Red Bull ranks underscores the team’s commitment to developing young, homegrown talent and giving them opportunities at the highest level of motorsport.

With the confirmation of Lawson’s promotion, Red Bull now looks to the future with renewed hope for the 2025 season. The departure of Perez marks the end of an era for the team, but it also signals a new chapter with Lawson joining Verstappen in what could become a formidable driver pairing for Red Bull in the coming years. As Red Bull aims to regain its championship-winning form, all eyes will be on how Lawson fares in the high-pressure environment of Formula 1 alongside one of the sport’s most talented drivers.