Christian Horner names Perez contract decision date as Red Bull ‘not short of options’ | F1 | Sport

Christian Horner has given Sergio Perez ‘nine months’ to secure his long-term Red Bull future as the battle to be Max Verstappen’s next team-mate hots up. The Mexican driver’s contract expires at the end of the 2024 season, and his team principal has made it clear that he has several alternatives waiting in the wings.

2023 was a difficult campaign for Perez. The 33-year-old looked like a genuine title contender after taking two Grand Prix victories in the span of four races to start the year, but that optimism rapidly unravelled after Verstappen embarked on a ten-race winning streak from round five onwards.

So dramatic was Perez’s drop-off that a debate about his future beyond the end of the 2023 campaign was sparked. Thankfully for both parties, his form recovered during the final three races, and Horner’s unwavering faith in his second driver was repaid with a first-ever one-two Drivers’ Championship finish for Red Bull.

However, with his existing deal set to expire at the end of the season, the pressure will soon be back on Perez’s shoulders. With Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda both impressing for AlphaTauri last season, Horner has two convincing replacements waiting for a chance, and that is before you take into consideration external alternatives.

“It’s Checo’s seat,” Horner told PlanetF1 when asked about his future beyond next season. “He’s in the car because we believe he’s the right driver now.

“It’s down to him over the next nine months to demonstrate that we feel that way for 2025. Of course, we’ve got great talent in the pool with Daniel, with Liam [Lawson], with Yuki. So time will tell.”

Despite the pressure facing Perez heading into the 2024 campaign, Horner believes that his driver has it within him to take a step forward in performance relative to Verstappen. Red Bull are looking to defend both World Championships next season, and with the field expected to converge over the winter, they will need both drivers on top form.

“The conversations that we’ve had over the winter, I think, have all been very positive,” Horner continued. “I think he knows what he’s got to do, he’s been around the sport long enough, and he’s got enough experience. So I’m sure he’s going to come in firing on all cylinders.”