Christian Horner has insisted Sergio Perez is “sufficiently old and smart sufficient to know what the state of affairs is” as Red Bull seems to be set to finish the partnership after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Mexican will end solely eighth within the drivers’ standings regardless of team-mate Max Verstappen successful his fourth title, with Perez’s shortcomings largely accountable for the group’s incapability to maintain McLaren and Ferrari at bay.
It is known that Red Bull’s shareholders will meet on the Monday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to agency up the group’s driver plans for 2025.
And whereas the group is publicly saying little about Perez’s future, it’s understood that the plan is for it to interchange the Mexican subsequent 12 months with one of many present RB duo.
What nonetheless must be sorted out although is the phrases of their partnership ending, with him having initially signed a contract – albeit with break clauses – into subsequent 12 months.
In phrases of potential replacements, Liam Lawson stays favorite to be given the nod, however Yuki Tsunoda may but get himself within the body if he impresses in a Red Bull take a look at he has in Abu Dhabi on the Tuesday after the season finale.
Speaking to ViaPlay on Sunday, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko stated issues will change into clear subsequent week.
“There is a gathering Monday after Abu Dhabi,” he stated. “All the key individuals are there, all the shareholders, and there a choice will probably be executed.
“We all the time – or more often than not – introduced our personal drivers by the Red Bull programme and I believe it is a philosophical determination: can we stick with that? And what I bought from the shareholders is it will likely be on this route.”
After plenty of underwhelming qualifying outcomes, the Qatar Grand Prix weekend once more proved difficult for Perez, failing to achieve SQ2 on Friday earlier than blowing his pitlane begin when failing to acknowledge the inexperienced gentle within the dash race.
Having run within the factors within the grand prix, Perez spun behind the protection automotive earlier than his automotive floor to a halt, ending his day prematurely.
On the problem that noticed his race end, Horner defined: “We’re simply investigating the precise failure but it surely seems to be like, clearly he is spun the automotive and as he dropped the clutch, the clutch had an excessive amount of temperature undergo it. So sure, a type of issues. But extra to return after we have stripped the automotive.”
Pointing to his errors throughout the weekend, Horner added: “We despatched him to the top of the pit lane seven minutes forward of Colapinto for a cause.
“But look, Checo’s contributed an enormous quantity to this group within the 4 years that he is been right here. The world championship that Max achieved in ’21, the constructors’ world championships in ’22 and ’23 and clearly this 12 months has been significantly arduous.
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“He’s received 5 Grand Prix’ for us and he is had some excellent performances in races like Singapore, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, to call a number of. So everyone holds Checo within the highest of regard and respect.
“But clearly, the state of affairs that we’re in is as painful for him as it’s for the group.”
With it wanting more and more doubtless that Red Bull will break its partnership with Perez on the finish of the season following this weekend’s finale at Yas Marina, Horner added: “Checo has had a really robust 12 months and clearly the factors, the tables are what they’re.
“We’re very a lot targeted on actually supporting him to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. It’s not an pleasurable state of affairs for Checo being on this place with hypothesis each week. He’s sufficiently old and smart sufficient to know what the state of affairs is and let’s examine the place we’re after Abu Dhabi.”
Photos from Qatar GP Race
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