Christian Horner makes critical Sergio Perez demand with new contract decision looming
It is make or break for Sergio Perez over the coming handful of races and the Mexican is under more pressure than ever.
Chrisitan Horner has made clear the need for Sergio Perez to improve his performances and score consistent points for the team amid increased competition from Ferrari and McLaren. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Red Bull are expected to offer an extension, but this could change if returns continue to spiral.
The Monaco Grand Prix was a weekend to forget for Perez. The Mexican racer was eliminated in Q1 for the second year in a row after struggling to get his RB20 under control around the twisty streets of Monte Carlo. Then, on lap one of the race, he was tagged from behind by Kevin Magnussen, causing a major shunt at Beau Rivage.
For Red Bull, the impact of Perez’s miserable weekend was severe. The reigning champions are now just 26 points clear of Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, while the six-time Grand Prix winner has slumped to fifth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, 62 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen.
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Assessing Perez’s performance in Monaco, Horner said: "This weekend's been pretty brutal for him. Obviously, we need to make sure that we've got both cars up there scoring points because we cannot dismiss the threat of Ferrari and McLaren in both championships.
"[In] Checo's first six races he was very strong. He was qualifying on the front row and finishing second and third, and scoring very well. We just need to get him back into that position of confidence and not see a dip."
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However, despite a concerning weekend in Monte Carlo, Horner insists that the timeline for Perez’s new contract has not changed. "No, not really,” he explained. “I think that it's more… we'll make a decision in the fullness of time."
According to a report from ESPN, Horner’s comments ring true. The former Sauber and Racing Point driver has been made to wait for confirmation of his future but is in line for a one-year contract extension with Red Bull opting against their alternatives for the 2025 season.
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The Milton Keynes-based outfit had weighed up a move for Carlos Sainz, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 campaign to make room for Lewis Hamilton. However, the Spaniard has since been ruled out by Red Bull bosses and with neither Yuki Tsunoda nor Daniel Ricciardo appealing, Perez is set for another year alongside Verstappen.
