Red Bull team boss Christian Horner thought Sergio Perez had made a breakthrough at the start of the 2024 season. Perez scored four podiums in the first five races, including three runner-up finishes behind Max Verstappen.
To a large degree, this reflected Red Bull’s enduring dominance after their historic 2023 season. Indeed, Verstappen’s first four victories came by a combined margin of over a minute.
But Perez also seemed to be closer to the reigning champion than he had been for much of the previous campaign. He was just over three-tenths off in qualifying in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and China, and within a tenth in Japan.
| RACE | VER Q TIME | PER Q TIME | GAP |
| Bahrain Grand Prix | 1:29.179 | 1:29.537 | +0.358s |
| Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | 1:27.472 | 1:27.807 | +0.335s |
| Australian Grand Prix | 1:15.915 | 1:16.274 | +0.379s |
| Japanese Grand Prix | 1:28.197 | 1:28.263 | +0.066s |
| Chinese Grand Prix | 1:33.660 | 1:33.982 | +0.322s |
“Checo started the season so strongly, four podiums out of five races,” Horner told ESPN. “It felt like he’d taken off where he left off last year.”
Had he maintained that deficit for the full season, it’s highly likely he would have kept his seat for 2025 as the perfect number two. But instead his form spiralled to the point that he was struggling to score points as Verstappen competed for the championship.
Now, there are doubts as to whether Perez will continue in F1 at all. He could theoretically make himself available for the 2026 season, if there are suitors, but he may decide to walk away from the sport for good after an excruciating campaign.
Sergio Perez’s camp insist his Red Bull exit wasn’t voluntary
Later in his interview, Horner claimed that Perez had ‘come to his own conclusion’ that it was the ‘right time to step away from Formula 1’. Because the Mexican was under contract, Red Bull had to negotiate an early release.
This is line with Horner’s comments about Perez following the Qatar GP. He told his driver he was ‘old enough and wise enough’ to recognise the reality of the situation.
However, according to RACER, ‘sources close to Perez’ have refuted Horner’s claims. They maintain that he was pushed out, rather than leaving by choice.
It’s almost certain that Red Bull have had to pay off the Mexican. The exact details of that agreement are likely to surface in due course.
Sergio Perez just weakened Christian Horner’s position at Red Bull
Horner says Perez found things ‘very tough’ from Monaco onwards, when he crashed heavily on the opening lap after a tangle with Kevin Magnussen. He only finished in the top six once between the late-May race and the end of the season.
The 51-year-old has, in conjunction with the rest of the senior figures at Red Bull, chosen Liam Lawson as his replacement. Hiring Lawson is a gamble given that he only has 11 races of F1 experience.
Horner believes Lawson has the ‘right mindset’ to survive alongside Verstappen. He needs this bold move to work given the embarrassing nature of Perez’s exit.
The team inexplicably handed him a new contract, and seemed to regret their decision within weeks. At the end of the year where Horner attempted a disastrous power grab, it was one final PR nightmare.
