Christian Horner says Red Bull need to get both drivers into the match in time as he is worried about Sergio Perez’s form.
Red Bull has won both the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship for the 2023 F1 season, but their only goal remains a one-two in the Drivers’ Championship, with Max Verstappen now his teammate. He holds the lead over Sergio Perez.
However, the Mexican’s lack of form and results hurt him, as Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton came closer and closer and disrupted the party. After a strong early showing, Perez only dropped the ball and fought consistently for the most part to secure a spot on the podium.
Horner admits that he was probably putting too much pressure on himself, which led to his mistakes. For Red Bull, it’s not just about his two wins in 2023, but also about his big picture 2024, where drivers like McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari could still pounce.
We need both Verstappen and Perez to secure a chance at the title. “With a car like ours, I think he probably puts pressure on himself,” Horner said. “The most important thing for us is to win both championships. We did that. The next best thing is for both drivers to be his first and his second. .
“We see a couple in Mercedes, a couple in McLaren, and a couple in Ferrari that are pretty close between their respective drivers. I think we already had that at the beginning of this year. But , as the season progressed, it became more diverse. All we need is to get Czech back to the best possible shape.
“As I said, the disappointing thing is that we know what Czech is capable of. Of course, he contributed a lot to the Constructors’ Championship last year and this year. We need him. If the grid continues to collapse next year, as expected, both drivers will have to perform at their best, so we can’t afford a major split,” Horner concluded.
To get out of the spiral, Perez is working with a trainer to calm down. He is already under contract until 2024, so Red Bull’s support will continue. But knowing what has become of the team, you can always take drastic steps to get rid of him.
For now, Horner knows the media will definitely attack him, so they are taking it easy. “Sport at the highest level is as much a mental game as it is a physical game,” he said. “I think Czech said he’s working with a trainer in that area. I think he needs to take advantage of that to boost his confidence.
“As I said, we fully support Czech in finding his groove.” You guys (media) will bash him enough, I’m sure. doing. “We really want him to achieve what we think he can do,” Horner concluded.
Sergio Perez and Christian Horner discuss Qatar’s developments
This is the FIA and drivers in the intense heat at the Qatar GP
Max Verstappen says he wants to see the Qatar GP again
