Horner on Perez: 'It’s mentally a tough game'

Christian Horner hopes Sergio Perez recovers after another disappointing qualifying session. The Mexican will start the Qatar Grand Prix in 13th place on Sunday, and that while teammate Max Verstappen may once again start from P1. Horner agrees that Perez is in a "difficult" situation.

"We would still be leading the championship if we didn’t have him [Max]," Horner told Sky Sports about Perez's second place in the championship. "The delta between the two of them is difficult to explain at the minute. It’s a shame, Checo made it to Q3 then lost the lap time. It’s tough. Max getting the job done, but it’s a tough one for Checo."

Perez in corner where blows fall

What can Red Bull do to pull Verstappen's teammate out of the slump? "Checo responds better to an arm around the shoulder. It’s mentally a tough game and when you’re going up against Max, the pressure only intensifies. We know what he can do and qualifying is always his achilles heel. We need to support him through these difficult moments to make sure he comes back strong tomorrow and the race on Sunday," said the team principal.

This is the umpteenth time the 33-year-old experienced driver has failed to make it into the top 10 in qualifying. Eight times he failed to make Q3 in 2023. Horner: "It’s a tough moment for him. He’s an experienced guy. He has the pressure on his shoulders of being in the hottest seat in F1. We need to support him as a team and try to do the best to get the most out of him and make sure he finishes in second place in the championship."