Christian Horner’s Fiery Defence: Red Bull Boss Stands Firm on Sergio Perez Amid Awkward Interview

Christian Horner's spirited response in defending Sergio Perez

Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, found himself in a tense interview while passionately standing up for Sergio Perez.

Christian Horner found himself in an uncomfortable interview with Sky Sports F1, where the Red Bull team boss stood by the choice to retain Sergio Perez.

After discussions held right after the Belgian Grand Prix, amidst widespread rumors about Perez's future, Red Bull announced that the Mexican driver would keep his position for the rest of the 2024 season.

During an interview with Sky following Friday's practice at the Dutch Grand Prix, Horner appeared confrontational and had a brief, tense interaction with host Natalie Pinkham.

When questioned about Red Bull's decision to allow Perez additional time to improve his recent performance slump, Horner sharply retorted, “Well, who would you replace him with?”

A surprised Pinkham responded, "I'm not in charge of Red Bull."

Horner went on to say, "No, no, but who would you replace him with? What would be the reason to make a change?"

"Why are you putting the blame on me?" Pinkham asked. "It's not my choice. I'm curious. Is it because there's no clear replacement? Is that why you haven't let him go?"

Horner replied, “We’re aware of Checo’s potential. Earlier in the year, he secured podium finishes in four out of five races.”

"He’s been struggling with confidence and has found himself caught in a downward cycle. Hopefully, he’s managed to regroup during the summer break."

"There are upcoming races at which he has previously secured victories. For instance, he has triumphed at Azerbaijan, winning both the sprint race and the grand prix during the same weekend. Additionally, he achieved a remarkable win in Singapore, defeating Charles Leclerc in variable weather conditions."

"He has shown great speed at Monza, but Zandvoort hasn't been his strongest track. Out of the four upcoming races before the next short break, I believe this one will be his toughest."

Was Perez retained for commercial reasons?

There have been speculations that one of the motivations for keeping Perez is his commercial value. However, Horner refuted the idea that it's crucial for the Mexican driver to remain with the team until his home race.

"It's all about performance," emphasized Horner. "We have two drivers who we believe, from our selection of drivers, are the most capable of delivering the best outcomes for us."

“If we had been uncertain about that, we would have altered it.”

"The racing industry is high-pressure. Every driver is aware of the expectation to perform, regardless of their position on the grid. When Checo is at his best, he has the ability to meet these demands."

"We aim to restore his confidence by providing him with a car that he feels assured driving."

When questioned about why Yuki Tsunoda has never been considered for a position with the main team, Horner responded: “We believe we already have the two best drivers in our car. We have access to all the relevant data from all the drivers. We possess all the necessary information.

"If we thought there was an improved option, we would have already made a switch. We are confident that our current setup is strong enough to win the championship. Last year, they secured the top two positions, and the previous year, they finished first and third."

"You are quick to criticize Sergio. We're attempting to provide him with the opportunity to regain his previous performance level. He has to handle the immense pressure, the media scrutiny, and the overwhelming presence on social media that comes with it."

"He has the ability to recover, and we are fully backing him. We are looking forward to his reaction."

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