News Update:Christian Horner Admits Red Bull’s Mistake with Sergio Perez’s Early…read more.
Christian Horner Admits Red Bull’s Mistake with Sergio Perez’s Early…read more.
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has acknowledged that the team made a misstep in offering Sergio Perez a contract extension earlier than expected, a decision that now appears to have backfired given the Mexican driver’s lackluster performances throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Sergio Perez has been under immense pressure regarding his future at Red Bull, especially after a disappointing second half of the 2024 season. While he showed impressive form at the beginning of the year, securing four podium finishes in his first five races, the rest of his season was marked by inconsistency and missed opportunities. As a result, Perez ended the year in eighth place in the drivers’ standings, having scored just 13 points from the final nine races of the season.
This significant dip in performance stands in stark contrast to the exceptional run of results achieved by his teammate, Max Verstappen, who dominated the season with ease and clinched his third consecutive World Drivers’ Championship title. The disparity in results between the two drivers has sparked ongoing discussions about Perez’s future at Red Bull, despite the Mexican racer initially showing promise.
Perez had been rewarded with a contract extension earlier in the year, following his strong start to the season. With four podiums in the opening five races, Red Bull opted to offer Perez a new deal that would see him stay with the team until the end of the 2026 season. However, as the season progressed, it became clear that Perez’s form had significantly dropped, and he was no longer able to deliver the same level of consistency that had initially earned him the extension.
In a candid interview during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, Horner admitted that Red Bull’s decision to extend Perez’s contract so early in the season may have been a mistake. He explained that the team had made the move with the intention of providing Perez with stability and helping him maintain his momentum, but the plan ultimately did not work out as expected.
“At the time, Sergio was performing extremely well,” Horner reflected. “I think he had four podiums in the first five races, and in order to settle his mind and extend that run of form for the rest of the season, we elected to go early, which obviously didn’t work.”
Despite the disappointing second half of the season, Horner was quick to emphasize Perez’s value to the team and the important role he has played in Red Bull’s success over the past few years. He highlighted that, while Perez’s recent form has been underwhelming, his contributions to the team’s championship-winning campaigns should not be overlooked. Perez has been a key part of Red Bull’s success, including helping the team secure the Constructors’ Championship, and his five Grand Prix victories while driving for the team.
“Checo has been a great team player. He’s a great person, and he’s extremely popular within the team. He’s worked very hard over the four years that he’s been with us, and he’s played a vital role in the Constructors’ Championships that we’ve won,” Horner continued. “It’s been the most successful pairing that we’ve ever had, finishing first and second in the drivers’ championship last year. So, nobody is more frustrated with the results than Checo himself, from his own high standards.”
Although Perez’s recent struggles have cast doubt on his future at Red Bull, Horner made it clear that the team still values his contributions. He acknowledged that Perez had a significant role to play in helping the team secure multiple victories and the overall success in recent years. However, with Perez failing to keep up with Verstappen’s dominant performances in 2024, speculation about his seat at Red Bull has intensified.
The timing of Perez’s contract extension remains a topic of discussion. While the decision was made based on his strong early-season performances, Horner admitted that the team did not anticipate the drop-off in form that would follow. It now appears that Red Bull may have acted too hastily in committing to Perez for the long term, with the team’s championship ambitions becoming increasingly focused on Verstappen’s performance.
Looking ahead, Perez’s future at Red Bull is uncertain. The team has shown a willingness to make difficult decisions in the past, and with the team’s dominance in the sport, the pressure to deliver results is only going to increase. Whether Perez can regain his form and prove his worth to the team in 2025 and beyond remains to be seen. As Horner pointed out, the team will continue to evaluate the situation, but there is little doubt that the Mexican driver has a lot of work to do to justify his place in the team going forward.
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