Red Bull team principal Christian Horner defended the team’s decision to retain Sergio Perez despite his recent struggles.
After starting the season with four podiums in the first five races, the Mexican’s form has dipped dramatically since then.
Over the last nine races Perez has finished in the top five on just one occasion, a run that has left him seventh in the standings and 146 points behind teammate and championship leader Max Verstappen.
Despite Perez’s struggles, Red Bull confirmed he will remain with the team until the end of the season. Horner backed the decision while speaking to Sky Sports F1 following the conclusion of FP2.
“Well, who would you put in? Who would you change him for?” Horner responded when asked, on Sky Sports F1, why Perez has been given more time.
“We know what Checo’s capable of. At the beginning of the year, he had four podiums in five races. I think he’s just a lack of confidence and has ended up in a bit of spiral. I think he’s had a bit of a reset hopefully over the summer break.
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“We know that there’s tracks that he’s won at coming up. We’ve got Azerbaijan where he’s won both a Sprint and grand prix on the same weekend. He’s won a fantastic race in Singapore against Charles Leclerc in mixed conditions.
“He’s been very quick at Monza. Zandvoort hasn’t bene his best circuit, so of the four races coming up before the next mini-break, I would say this is his most challenging one.”
Why Red Bull rejected Ricciardo and Tsunoda
Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda were both mentioned as possible Perez replacements during the summer break.
Horner explained that neither were given Perez’s seat because Red Bull believe they currently have the two best drivers capable of leading the team to glory in 2024.
“We have the best two drivers in this car and if we felt there was something better we would have changed it by now,” Horner said.
“We believe what we have is capable of defending the championship, it came first and second in last year’s championship, first and third the year before and won in 2021 as well.
“We are trying our hardest to give Sergio the chance to rediscover that form. He has to deal with the pressure and the media and the social media pile-on off the back of that.
“He is a driver capable of bouncing back and we are giving him our full support. We want to see him respond.”
