Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has moved to end speculation over Sergio Perez’s future by telling the team’s staff he will continue to drive for them after the summer break.
The team extended Perez’s contract at the beginning of June, taking him into next season. However a spate of poor results since then led Horner to warn the team were throwing away too many points in the constructors’ championship. At Silverstone, where Perez failed to score for the third time in five races, Horner called the situation “unsustainable”.
In the two races since, Perez has mustered a pair of seventh place finishes, the latter coming from a front row start at Spa-Francorchamps yesterday. Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko gave a withering verdict on Perez’s performance, saying he “completely collapsed” in the final stint. However Perez served a useful tactical purpose by making his second pit stop early, which helped to protect team mate Max Verstappen from Lando Norris behind him.
Horner gave the strongest indication yet Perez will remain in place until the end of the season when speaking to staff at Red Bull’s base today.
“Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver despite recent speculation and we look forward to seeing him perform at tracks he has previously excelled at after the summer break,” Horner told the team, a spokesperson confirmed to RaceFans.
Perez dismissed suggestions his place at the team was in danger after yesterday’s race. “I’ve said everything I have to regarding my future,” he told Viaplay.
“I think now the main focus of the team is on getting ourselves sorted and I have nothing further to add. I’ve said everything I have to.”
Verstappen gave his backing to Perez following yesterday’s race. The pair have been team mates since 2021.
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Formula 1
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