Red Bull boss Christian Horner has conceded that “difficult decisions have to be made” regarding Sergio Perez‘s Formula 1 future amid a torrid Mexico City Grand Prix.
Perez entered the previous weekend hoping that his home round would inspire an uptick amid a wretched campaign which he had branded as “terrible” in the build-up.
However, the Mexican’s prospects were dealt a comprehensive blow as he was eliminated in Q1 with the third slowest time, resigning him to lining up 18th on the grid.
Perez, though, was making good progress through the order in the opening stages until a clash with RB’s Liam Lawson at Turn 5 caused sizeable damage to his RB20.
Horner has revealed that the touch cost Perez “about 70 points” of downforce as he slipped back to take the chequered flag as the last classified runner in 17th place.
“I think Checo, unfortunately, he started out of [his grid] box position, so he picked up a [five-second] penalty for that,” Horner told media including Motorsport Week.
“His first lap was strong. His start was strong.
“Then the damage he picked up with Liam, he picked up with Liam, he picked up about 70 points worth of load with a hole in the sidepod and half the side of the floor missing.
“So that was, at that point, you’re effectively wounded and scoring points was never going to be on the cards.”
Perez’s tumultuous weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez has meant he’s registered 18 points in the six rounds to have been held since the summer break.
Asked how Perez recovers from his latest low point in 2024, Horner replied: “Checo again has had a horrible weekend. Nothing has gone right for him this weekend.
“He knows Formula 1 is a results-based business and inevitably when you are not delivering, the spotlight is firmly on you.”
Red Bull wants both cars ‘scoring points’
With Max Verstappen incurring two penalties en route to sixth place, Red Bull has slipped to third place in the Constructors’ Championship behind a revitalised Ferrari.
Horner has reiterated that the Austrian outfit needs both drivers contributing points in the closing races to have a shot at overhauling the Italian marque and McLaren.
“Formula 1 is a results-based business and when anyone is underperforming of course there is always going to become scrutiny on that,” he added.
“As a team, we need to have both cars scoring points. That is the nature of Formula 1.”
Red Bull still supporting Perez
Horner has insisted that Red Bull will strive to help Perez overturn his ongoing woes, but he suggested that there will become a point where the team can do no more.
Asked whether there is pressure on Perez’s position even this season, Horner answered: “It’s constant. It’s always there.
“From the team’s perspective, we are working with him as hard as we can to try and support him.
“We’ve done everything that we can and we’ll continue to do so in Brazil next weekend, but there comes a point in time that you can only do so much.”
Horner hints Perez’s position not secure
Meanwhile, Horner could not guarantee that Perez would remain in the car alongside Verstappen until the end of the season amid Red Bull’s dwindling title prospects.
When prompted to outline that Perez will complete the remaining four races, he concluded: “Look, as I just said, that scrutiny is always going to be there.
“There comes a point in time that difficult decisions have to be made. We’re now third in the Constructors’ Championship.
“Our determination is to try and get back into a winning position, but it’s going to be a tall order over these next four races.”
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