Red Bull’s Christian Horner Stands Firm in Defense of Sergio Perez Amid Speculation

Christian Horner's spirited defense of Sergio Perez quickly draws criticism

Red Bull leader Christian Horner caught in tense interview while passionately defending Sergio Perez.

In a somewhat uncomfortable exchange with Sky Sports F1, Red Bull's team chief, Christian Horner, stood by the choice to retain Sergio Perez.

After discussions that took place right after the Belgian Grand Prix, amid 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.

Horner appeared confrontational during his interview with Sky following Friday's practice at the Dutch Grand Prix, engaging in a sharp interaction with host Natalie Pinkham.

In response to a query about why Red Bull opted to extend Perez's opportunity to recover from his recent slump, Horner retorted, "Then, who do you suggest we replace him with?"

Taken aback, Pinkham responded, "I certainly don't run Red Bull."

Horner further questioned, "No, no, but whom would you replace him with? What's the reason for a change?"

"Why are you making this about me?" Pinkham inquired. "This isn't up to me. I'm curious to find out. Is it because there's no clear successor available? Is that the reason you've kept him around?"

Horner replied, "We are aware of Checo's capabilities. We understand that he started the year strongly, securing four podium finishes in the first five races."

"His confidence has been low, leading him into a downward spiral. With luck, the summer break has served as a period of rejuvenation for him."

"Upcoming races include circuits where he has previously triumphed. The Azerbaijan race is on the horizon, a place where he achieved victory in both the sprint race and the main grand prix in a single weekend. Additionally, he secured an impressive win in Singapore, outperforming Charles Leclerc under varying weather conditions."

"He's shown impressive speed at Monza. However, Zandvoort has proven to be a difficult track for him, making it the toughest of the upcoming four races before the next short break, in my opinion."

Speculation about Perez's retention for financial benefits?

The idea that Perez's marketability played a role in the decision to keep him has been floated, yet Horner has rejected the idea that maintaining the Mexican driver until his local race is significant.

"Absolutely not, it's all about how they perform," emphasized Horner. "In our team, we have two drivers who, in our opinion, from our selection of drivers, have the highest potential to deliver the top outcomes for us.

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

"The industry is highly demanding. Every racer is aware that they're expected to perform, regardless of their position in the rankings. When Checo is at his best, he has the ability to achieve results."

"We're aiming to restore his confidence by providing him with a vehicle that boosts his assurance."

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 are convinced we currently have the top two drivers. We possess comprehensive data and information on all the drivers."

"If we thought there was a superior option, we would have implemented it already. Our confidence lies in our current setup's ability to retain the title. Last year, they clinched the top two spots, and the year prior, they secured first and third positions.

You're quite fast to criticize Sergio. Our goal is to offer him the opportunity to regain his previous performance level. He's facing the challenge of dealing with intense scrutiny, including from traditional media and the barrage of comments on social media that follow.

"He's a skilled driver who has the ability to recover, and he has our complete backing. We are looking forward to seeing him make a comeback."

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Navigation

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Reproducing the content, whether entirely or partially, including text, photos, or illustrations, is strictly prohibited in any manner.