Sergio Perez will race in Brazil, but his future appears in doubt
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner declined to affirm that Sergio Perez would complete the Formula 1 season, following another disappointing performance from the Mexican driver during his home race on Sunday.
Starting from 18th position, Perez ultimately finished last on the track after incurring a penalty for a false start and being involved in multiple incidents with other competitors, which resulted in significant damage to his car.
Concurrently, Red Bull lost its second position in the constructors' championship to Ferrari, despite Max Verstappen maintaining the lead in the drivers' standings.
When directly questioned about Perez's future with Red Bull, especially given his decline in performance since May, Horner did not provide reassurance for a driver who is technically under contract until 2025. His comments suggested that Perez might have raced for the final time in front of his home audience in Formula 1.
"There comes a time when difficult decisions must be made," Horner stated. "We are now in third place in the constructors' championship. Our goal is to return to a winning position, but achieving that will be challenging in the upcoming four races."
Horner confirmed that Perez would participate in the Brazilian Grand Prix next weekend, which is the last of an American triple-header, but there was considerable speculation at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez regarding a potential change for the final three races of the season.
Describing Perez's weekend as "horrible," Horner noted that nothing seemed to go right for him.
"He understands that Formula 1 is a results-driven sport, and when results are lacking, the focus inevitably shifts to him," Horner remarked when asked about the risk to Perez's seat, labeling the driver as "under-performing" and emphasizing the constant scrutiny he faces.
"As a team, we require both cars to score points, which is the essence of Formula 1," he added. "We are doing everything possible to support him. We have provided all the assistance we can, and we will continue to do so in Brazil next weekend. However, there comes a point where our efforts can only go so far."
SportsLigue