Red Bull’s Christian Horner Defends Sergio Perez in Tense Interview Amid Speculation on Future

Christian Horner's spirited defense of Sergio Perez quickly criticizes detractors

Red Bull's leader, Christian Horner, caught in an uncomfortable interview while passionately defending Sergio Perez.

In an uncomfortable exchange with Sky Sports F1, Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, found himself justifying the choice to retain Sergio Perez.

After discussions that took place right after the Belgian Grand Prix, amidst widespread rumors about Perez's career prospects, 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 session at the Dutch Grand Prix, Horner displayed a confrontational demeanor, engaging in a sharp interaction with host Natalie Pinkham.

In response to a query about why Red Bull opted to extend Perez's period to improve his recent lackluster performance, Horner retorted sharply, "Then, who do you suggest we replace him with?"

In response, a surprised Pinkham stated, "I certainly don't run Red Bull."

Horner went on to ask, "No, no, but who would you replace him with? And what would be the reason for making that change?"

"Why are you making this my issue?" Pinkham questioned. "I didn't make this call. I'm curious, too. Is it because there's no clear successor? Is that the reason you've kept him around?"

Horner replied, "We're aware of Checo's abilities. We recognize that he secured four podium finishes in the first five races of the season.

"He's been experiencing low self-esteem and found himself in a downward spiral. With any luck, the summer break has served as a period of rejuvenation for him."

"Upcoming races include circuits where he has emerged victorious. The Azerbaijan race is on the horizon, where he triumphed in both the sprint and the main grand prix in a single weekend. He also secured a remarkable victory in Singapore, outperforming Charles Leclerc under varying weather conditions."

"He's shown remarkable speed at Monza. However, Zandvoort hasn't really played to his strengths, making it the most demanding of the four upcoming races before the next short break, in my opinion."

Speculation arises around financial motives for Perez's retention?

The idea that Perez's marketability played a role in the choice to keep him has been floated, yet Horner refuted the idea that it's crucial for the Mexican driver to remain until his local race.

"Absolutely not, it's all focused on performance," Horner emphasized. "In our view, we possess two drivers within our roster who we are convinced can deliver the optimal outcomes for us.

"Had there been any uncertainty on our part, we would have made adjustments accordingly."

"The industry is highly stressful. Every racer is aware that there's an expectation for them to perform, and this applies across the board. When Checo is at his best, he has the ability to achieve great results."

"Our goal is to restore his confidence by providing him with a vehicle that meets his needs."

In response to inquiries about Yuki Tsunoda's absence from discussions regarding a position with the main team, Horner explained, "The reason is that we're confident we already have the top two drivers in the lineup. We possess comprehensive data and information on all the drivers."

"If we thought there was a superior alternative, we would have made the switch already. We are confident that our current setup is strong enough to retain the championship title. Last year, they secured the top two positions, and the year before, they came in first and third."

"You're quite fast to criticize Sergio. Our aim is to offer him the opportunity to regain his previous level of performance. He's dealing with a lot of stress, including scrutiny from the press and the onslaught of comments and opinions on social media that come with it."

"He's a driver who has the ability to recover, and he has our complete backing. We're eager to witness his comeback."

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