F1 News
Horner: 'It is Checo's seat to lose"
- Ludo van Denderen
At the end of the year, the media appear with many looks back at 2023. Red Bull Racing also look back at what could be called the team's most successful season in Formula 1 history. It should be noted, however, that this should be attributed almost entirely to Max Verstappen. Sergio Perez had a shaky 2023, although he eventually finished second in the championship.
Perez faces an exciting 2024. His contract expires after the season, so the Mexican must convince the team management that he is the right man in the right place after that too. According to Christian Horner, Red Bull's team boss, there is only one way to do that: perform. "It is Checo's seat to lose," Horner stated in the BBC's podcast F1: Chequered Flag.
No early decision on Perez expected
"He is our 2024 driver and if he does a great job next year there is no reason we wouldn't extend him into 2025, but it will be purely based on what he achieves over the large part of the season," the team boss said, seeming to indicate that Red Bull will not make a decision on Perez early in the season.
Not for the first time, Horner says Perez needs to work on his qualifying in particular so that he does not have to get through the field first almost every week. And if Perez fails to perform especially consistently at the top, Red Bull Racing is in a luxury position: "We have options in the wings. There is a lot of interest from outside the team as well, so as long as you're competitive it puts you in a luxury position to just take your time."