(Motorsports news) Perez has struggled as Max Verstappen’s teammate throughout 2023, and he has yet to win a race in the powerful RB19 since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. His troubles have raised speculation that Red Bull may be seeking to find a way to terminate his contract for 2024 and replace him.
Speculation on that front has been fueled further by reports that Red Bull’s stance on the problem will be determined by whether or not Perez finishes second to Verstappen in the F1 title race. But Horner argues that is not the case, and that while Red Bull would prefer Perez to finish second, his spot for next year is guaranteed regardless of what happens.
“There’s no pre-mandate like that,” Horner remarked when asked if placing second meant Perez’s future. “In a championship, we’ve never finished first and second. We finished first and third several times with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, then last year with Max and Checo. “So, in such a season as we’ve had, it would be fantastic if we could finish first and second with this car.”
“His race in Azerbaijan, where he won both the sprint and the grand prix.” That is the type of performance we know he is capable of. “I think it’s just getting him back into that mind frame and to get the most out of him to get him back to those levels of performances.” While Horner has stated that Perez will continue with Red Bull until 2024, the rest of the team seems unconcerned. “We are certainly not short of options,” he said of a 2025 decision.
“Of course, we’ve got plenty of time to look and evaluate that, but there’s so many factors involved.” When asked if there were any concerns that Red Bull would struggle to find someone willing to compete against Verstappen in the same car, Horner was adamant that there would be none. “To beat Max, you’ve got to beat him somehow,” he went on to say. “I think the amount of interest that we have in being a Red Bull Racing driver in 2025, we’re certainly not short of options.”
