Sergio Perez has revealed he’ll only continue racing at Red Bull if he feels he’s helping the team, despite having a contract at the reigning double-champions for 2024.
There have been rumours that Red Bull could force a change from their end, potentially pushing Daniel Ricciardo into the seat before his injury at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix dampened those talks.
Perez has taken all but one of his five grand prix victories at Red Bull, including two in 2023 that keep the team’s unbeaten streak over the season alive, but has struggled in the RB19 compared to teammate Max Verstappen.
“I think that now, with the season we’ve had, it’s important in the next races to be in an environment where I feel I can contribute,” Perez told DAZN Espana. “And if that place in 2024 isn’t here, then we have to look for alternatives.
“But for now, my main focus is to stay here and win more races. And keep on winning championships with Red Bull. I have a contract for next year. So, at some stage next year, we’ll see.”
Perez last beat Verstappen in a competitive session at qualifying for the 2023 Miami GP, over four months ago by the time F1 arrives in Singapore, and his most recent race win was at Baku a week before.
Horner: Checo’s 2024 situation is clear
Perez scored just his second top-two finish in nine races at the Italian GP, exploiting the Red Bull‘s superior pace around Monza to cut through the field from fifth on the grid.
Qualifying four-tenths behind Verstappen, at least Perez made it to the final part of qualifying – he endured a run of missing Q3 for five races in a row starting at the Monaco GP.
However, that doesn’t seem to have put off his Red Bull boss, as Horner backed his charge following another bellow-par performance at Zandvoort.
“Checo’s situation for next year is clear,” Horner told select members of the press, including Total-Motorsport.com, at the Dutch GP. “He’s a Red Bull Racing driver and we have an agreement with him with, and irrelevant of agreements we’re pleased with the job that he’s doing.
“You saw his drive today, he was unlucky with the pit lane speed limiter and he’s second in the world championship.”
