Sergio Perez faces mounting scrutiny over his Red Bull seat following a disappointing performance at his home race in Mexico City. Pérez began the race in the 18th position and ended up last, receiving a penalty for a false start and later getting entangled in multiple incidents with other drivers, which ultimately left his car damaged.
Heading into the Mexico race, Pérez acknowledged that his 2024 F1 season had been “terrible“, a statement that Horner did not refute during Friday’s press conference. Unfortunately, Pérez went on to deliver one of his most disappointing performances of the season before his home crowd at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
As Max Verstappen managed to secure sixth place despite multiple penalties, Red Bull’s title aspirations suffered a major setback, with the reigning champions slipping to third in the standings with Ferrari’s double podium pushed them ahead of the Milton Keynes team. Horner acknowledged to media, including PlanetF1.com, that retaining the title now seems “very difficult” and also provided insights into what had transpired with Pérez during the race in Mexico.
“We never give up. We’ll fight very hard. We need both cars, obviously, scoring,” Horner said. “Ferrari had another big score today and, as far as the Constructors’ [Championship] is concerned, we’re certainly on the back foot.
When questioned directly about Pérez’s future with Red Bull amid a dramatic slump in form since May, Horner stopped short of offering reassurance to the driver, despite his contract extending to 2025. His response hinted that Pérez’s appearance before the home crowd in Mexico might have been his last in F1.
Horner confirmed that Pérez would participate in the upcoming Brazilian race, concluding an American triple-header, but speculation ran rampant at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez regarding the possibility of a change in the driver lineup for the final three races of the season.
Pérez’s task goes beyond simply mastering the challenging layout of the Interlagos circuit; he must also reaffirm his role as a dependable teammate to Verstappen. Delivering a strong performance in Brazil could not only boost his standing within the team but also restore faith among fans and management.
In contrast, another disappointing outing could lead Red Bull to reevaluate their options for the upcoming Abu Dhabi race. As the Brazilian GP approaches, Pérez finds himself at a pivotal juncture in his career. For the Mexican, Interlagos represents a critical moment for Pérez to define his path in the fiercely competitive landscape of F1.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
