Christian Horner Backs Perez Amid European Circuit Concerns

Christian Horner has told Sergio Perez that Red Bull relies on him to support Max Verstappen, particularly after a setback at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola. Horner has also disclosed that Red Bull is fully aware of their options as Perez seeks a contract extension for the 2025 Formula 1 season. After an inconsistent F1 2023 season, Perez has shown promise at the start of the current season, contributing to Red Bull’s three one-two finishes in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.

Facing challenges at Imola, the 34-year-old, whose Red Bull contract expires this year, crashed in final practice and exited in Q2. Despite deploying an alternative tire strategy, he finished eighth, reminiscent of his mid-2023 struggles. Horner described the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as an “anomaly” and emphasized the importance of Perez supporting Verstappen, especially with McLaren and Ferrari posing significant threats. Despite Perez’s weekend struggles, Christian Horner acknowledged his improved performance this year, attributing it to a more relaxed approach focused on his own performance rather than Verstappen’s.

Horner attributed Perez’s improved performance this year to his more relaxed approach, focusing on his own performance rather than Verstappen’s. There’s a belief that Perez tends to struggle more on traditional European circuits, but Horner remains optimistic about his performance, particularly at Monaco, where Perez has historically performed well. Regarding Perez’s off weekend amid a volatile driver market, Horner assured that Red Bull is well-informed about their options for the 2025 season and anticipates straightforward discussions with Perez about his future with the team.