- Horner said Perez has the next season to push himself more
- Perez is the focus of attention as pressure grows from Daniel Ricciardo
- Ricciardo is likely to take his place at Red Bull before his current contract expires
Sergio Perez Red Bull contract extension solely depends on how well he performs in the 2024 season, team principal Christian Horner says.
Horner said Perez has the next season to push himself more so that he stays with the team.
Entering the last year of his current deal with Red Bull, Perez is the focus of attention as pressure grows from Daniel Ricciardo’s arrival at AlphaTauri.
Since his return to the F1 cockpit, there has been much conjecture in Formula One. Should Perez struggle with form like he did throughout 2023, Ricciardo is likely to take his place at Red Bull before his [Perez] current contract expires.
Sergio Perez Red Bull Contract Extension
Despite having a very strong start to the season, Perez’s 2023 season had more ups than downs. However, he still managed to secure a career-best finish, finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship.
Red Bull achieved a 1-2 for the first time in their history after Max Verstappen took the victory. Still, he has a golden chance to turn things around in 2024.
Sergio Perez and Christian Horner. Photo/F1
As contract talks heat up during the season, Horner discussed what he hopes to see from Perez in 2024 in an exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com.
“We all know what Checo [Perez] is capable of. I think he just needs to work hard to achieve consistency,” he stated.
He, however admitted that it is hard being Verstappen’s teammate because he sets the bar too high.
Yet, Perez he has managed to bounce back this season despite lows and criticism by the media.
“Time and time again, he’s bounced back when he’s been under pressure, a bit under criticism from the media. He’s done his talking on the track, and he’s done it again, at the tail end of this year with some very strong drives,” Horned praised the Mexican driver.
Red Bull’s RB19 proved unbeatable for nearly the entire season, with Verstappen and Perez winning every race together save for Singapore.
Sergio Perez. Photo/PlanetF1
Horner anticipates a closer race in 2024, so Perez will need to step up to keep Red Bull competitive against more reliable driver duos.
He responded to a question regarding Sergio Perez’s performance by emphasizing the need for collective effort and increased dedication.
He stated that the team, including Perez, must work harder to ensure optimal performance throughout the 24 races next year.
Horner acknowledged the growing competition and stressed the importance of having both drivers performing at their best to maintain a competitive edge and defend both titles successfully.
Red Bull’s focus is on maximizing the performance of the entire team and ensuring that both drivers are closely aligned in their capabilities to face the challenges posed by the evolving competition in the upcoming races.
“We’ve just got to work harder. Because we need him firing on all cylinders at 24 races next year because the competition will move closer. So we need both drivers as tightly bunched as we can in order to ensure that we do our utmost to defend both titles.”
Sergio Perez at Red Bull
He had a rough patch at the end of 2022 when a disagreement between him and Verstappen cropped up but it was never publicly acknowledged.
It threatened their team spirit but they worked through it this season although there were episodes where they collided.
Red Bull Driver Sergio Perez. Photo/InsideSport
Perez expressed confidence that he could beat Verstappen following his first victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
This sparked some wild reactions from Red Bull who told off the team stating that he was only racing for Red Bull to win and not play second fiddle.
Sergio Perez Hires Mental Coach
He resorted to hiring a mental coach in September following a series of terrible performances after leading in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan Grand Prix respectively.
“Formula One is my sport, my life, my passion. When you are having such a hard time at work, it is difficult to be cheerful at home with your wife and children,” he said.
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