Horner hints Perez’s Red Bull future 'will be his decision’

Christian Horner has given his views on the future of Sergio Perez, hinting that the Mexican's future at Red Bull could be up to the driver himself.

Perez endured another tough weekend in Qatar as he failed to finish the Grand Prix, while team mate and four-time world champion Max Verstappen went on to win. The result means Red Bull are officially out of contention for this year's constructors' title – which is now between Ferrari and McLaren.

It could be the first time since 1983 that the team that produced the winning driver in the championship only managed to finish third in the constructors’ standings. Red Bull do still have a slim chance of taking second place, but they would need a large points swing in Abu Dhabi with the Milton Keynes-outfit currently 38 points behind Ferrari and just 44 the maximum available.

Perez has been under pressure for most of the season, despite making a very strong start to the year. Four podiums in his first five races netted him a contract extension, but while he has a drive at the team next year on paper, Horner conceded to Sky Sports F1 that his lack of results of late have cost the team.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing — Perez spun off into retirement in the race in Qatar after finishing last in the Sprint

“First of all, we’ve won nine Grands Prix this year to five of any other team,” Horner said when asked about the Mexican driver. “Now, all of those nine have come from Max [Verstappen], whereas every other team has split between two drivers.

“And I think to be third – we’ve still got half a chance of second but it’s a massively long shot – we are out of the constructors’ and that’s very frustrating because that’s obviously where the financial revenues are distributed from.

“Now, it does give us more wind tunnel time if you look it glass half full with the new regulations coming in ’26. It does give us more wind tunnel time to accommodate those new regs.”

That glass half full viewpoint isn’t one that will necessarily keep Perez with the team however, the Mexican having last finished in the top four of a race all the way back in Miami and facing constant pressure through the year.

The RB20 has been a handful to drive, and certainly hasn’t been the class of the field all season, but Perez's results are still in stark contrast to the consistent delivery of Verstappen.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to — Red Bull can no longer win the constructors' championship after their score in Qatar

“Checo has been a wonderful driver for us, certainly in ’21, ’22, ’23,” Horner added. “He contributed to Max’s championship in ’21, constructors’ championships in ’22 and ’23.

“And, most of all, he’s a great guy and he’s not enjoying the situation he’s in at the moment. He knows the pressures of this business and we are going to give him all the support we can to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi next weekend and what he decides to do, that will be his decision at the end of the day.”

Horner was pressed on whether the ultimate decision about Red Bull’s driver line up would be the team’s, or whether they would leave it to the Mexican to decide if he wants to continue – with any break clauses in his contract an unknown.

“I think he’s old enough and wise enough to come to his own conclusions but there is still a race to go so let’s get to the end of Abu Dhabi and see where we are at,” Horner concluded.