Christian Horner Confirms Team Orders as Sergio Perez Shines in Azerbaijan GP

Christian Horner clarifies position on team orders following Sergio Perez's recent strong performance

"Team orders often spark debate, but Checo is fully aware of his responsibilities and duties…"

Christian Horner, the head of Red Bull's Formula 1 team, stated that Sergio Perez is ready to "assist" Max Verstappen if team directives are issued during this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

As the season approaches its concluding eight rounds, Verstappen holds a 62-point advantage over Lando Norris in the drivers' championship.

It looks like Red Bull has rejoined the competition in Azerbaijan this weekend, as the leading four teams are closely matched.

The positive update for Red Bull is that Perez has demonstrated impressive speed all weekend and has a strong track record in Azerbaijan.

Consequently, it's possible that Red Bull could have both of their cars near each other on the track, which has been a rare sight this season.

In an interview with Sky Sports following the third practice session, Horner was questioned about Red Bull's position on employing team orders given Perez's recent performance boost.

Christian Horner stated, "It hinges on the positioning of the other drivers. Team directives are often a controversial issue, but Checo is fully aware that his responsibility is to back Max until the conclusion of this championship, as well as to aid in the constructors' championship."

"We've witnessed his dedication, just recall Abu Dhabi 2021 to understand Checo's team spirit. Therefore, our strategy is quite simple. It would be fantastic to have the challenge of managing the final laps."

Perez holds the record as the most accomplished driver in the sport when it comes to competing in Azerbaijan, having secured two victories there.

During his tenure with Force India, he also made a significant impact by securing two podium finishes.

When questioned about Perez's strong performances in Baku, Horner admitted, "I have no idea," when asked what makes Perez excel on the streets of Baku.

"There’s no rational explanation for it—this track has high-speed straightaways with barriers and right-angle turns—but he consistently excels here. If the championship had 24 races in Azerbaijan, he would be incredibly difficult to defeat. It's crucial to maintain that momentum going into the race."

Red Bull holds an eight-point advantage in the constructors’ championship as they approach Sunday’s race.

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