Red Bull's Christian Horner urges Sergio Perez to step up ahead of 2024 Formula 1 season
- Rob Fleming
- 10 October 2023
Red Bull Racing's Christian Horner has issued a candid call for Sergio Perez to elevate his performances as the team gears up for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The Mexican driver has faced challenges this year, struggling to match the blistering pace of his teammate, Max Verstappen, resulting in a substantial 209-point deficit in the standings.
Red Bull have been nothing short of dominant this season, clinching victory in 16 out of 17 races, making it clear that they have once again secured the double championship. While Perez tasted success with two race wins earlier in the year, his strong start has given way to a series of disappointing results.
One notable setback occurred at the recent Qatar Grand Prix, where Perez was forced to start from the pit lane. This penalty followed significant car modifications made on Saturday after he found himself caught in a three-car collision during the Sprint race. Unfortunately for Perez, he was merely an innocent bystander, as Nico Hulkenberg's Haas and Esteban Ocon's Alpine clashed at Turn 2.
Despite his commendable recovery to secure a 10th-place finish, Perez incurred three five-second time penalties for breaching track limits, casting a shadow over his performance.
Perez is currently under contract with Red Bull until the end of the upcoming season. However, speculation has been rife throughout the year regarding the security of his position within the team.
Anticipating stiffer competition from rivals as the winter approaches and the new season dawns, Christian Horner has emphasized the importance of Perez raising his game.
Horner remarked, "Well, the frustration is that we know what Checo is capable of doing. Last year and this year, he has significantly contributed to the Constructors' Championship. We desperately want him to find that form.
"As a team, we need him to. We can't afford to have a big split because if, as you would expect, the grid continues to concertina next year, we need both drivers delivering at the top of the game."
The next thrilling instalment of the Formula 1 season is set to take place on October 22 in Austin, Texas. The race will unfold on the challenging 5.5-kilometre Circuit of the Americas track, which has been a staple on the Formula 1 calendar since its return in 2012 following a four-year absence.
Excitingly for American fans, Formula 1's popularity in the United States has surged in recent times, leading to the return of the Miami Grand Prix and the debut of a brand-new event in Las Vegas later in the season, promising an exhilarating climax to the 2023 campaign.
