Horner says Red Bull will let Perez ‘draw his own conclusions’

“Sergio Pérez knows the results and will reach his own conclusions about his future in Formula 1“said the head of Red Bull, Christian Hornerafter the Mexican had another scoreless race on Sunday, as it looked like his time with the team was coming to an end.

“Checo”‘s place as Max Verstappen’s teammate has been questioned for months, as The Mexican has a signed contract for 2025but their results were so weak that their position seemed untenable, up to that point apparently an announcement after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend, the last time.

“I’m going to let Checo come to his own conclusions, no one is forcing him one way or another,” Horner told the media after the Mexican’s abandonment of Qatar, completely buried in thin hope of Red Bull to defend the constructors’ title.

“We are very focused to really support him until the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi and then obviously This is not a pleasant situation for Checo“Being in this position with speculation every week,” he added.He is old enough to know what the situation is.and yes, we will see where we are after Abu Dhabi.”

Pérez was eighth in the championship and He is the only driver from the top four teams who has not won this season. The 34-year-old driver has scored 152 points in 23 races, a total just shy of Verstappen’s 429.

While Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive drivers’ title and won nine races, including Sunday at Lusail, Pérez hasn’t finished on the podium since he was third in China in April. His last victory was in April 2023, a season in which he added two wins, to Verstappen’s 19.

Pérez started the 2024 season strongly, with three second places in four races, but his performance deteriorated and he scored only 28 points in his last 10 races. Plus, he hasn’t finished in the top six since Miami in May.

“Sometimes things don’t go your way. We’re still here and We are optimistic that we can change things as a team.especially for next year,” he told reporters in Qatar last week. “I’ve been in this sport for 14 years and I don’t talk publicly about my contracts. So I won’t comment on that. I know where I am and I won’t say it publicly“.

If Pérez leaves, New Zealander Liam Lawson seems a possible replacement. The Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto was also considered as a possibilitybut a series of costly accidents in his Williams may have made this more likely.