Is Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hinting at Sergio Pérez’s departure after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? After the race in Qatar, the Brit seemed to be thanking the Mexican for his contributions to the Austrian team over the past years. However, Horner promised Checo that he will definitely be in the RB20 in Abu Dhabi. “He’s old enough to draw his own conclusions after that,” said the team boss.
The weekend in Qatar ended in another disaster for Sergio Pérez. After the Mexican failed to qualify higher than ninth place on Saturday, Pérez couldn’t even finish his race on Sunday. The Red Bull driver thus scored zero points for his team for the sixth time this season, causing the racing team to slide further in the battle for the constructors’ title.
Christian Horner appeared to thank Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez for his years at Red Bull after the race at the Losail International Circuit. “Checo has been a fantastic driver for us,” Horner told Sky Sports. “Especially in 2021, 2022, 2023. He helped Max with his championship in 2021, and contributed to the constructors’ titles in 2022 and 2023. He’s a great guy. He’s not enjoying the situation he’s currently in. He understands the pressure that comes with this sport. We will give him all the support we can until the flag in Abu Dhabi.”
A Veiled Warning?
Horner then seemed to give his second driver a veiled warning. “Whatever he decides to do after that is ultimately his decision. He’s old enough and wise enough to draw his own conclusions,” said the team boss. “There’s still one race to go, let’s do Abu Dhabi first, and then we’ll see.”
Uncertainty Over Pérez’s Replacement
It’s still unclear who will replace Pérez at Red Bull. PlanetF1 has reported that Franco Colapinto is no longer a contender for a seat at Red Bull’s sister team, Visa RB, following inconsistent results in his debut races. Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson therefore seem to be the most likely candidates to become Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025.
