Sergio Perez looked set for a strong result at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but Red Bull’s hopes were shattered following a dramatic lap-50 crash with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Despite Perez’s solid performance throughout the race, crucial setbacks and a costly collision left him without a podium finish, much to the disappointment of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
Horner expressed his belief that Perez had the potential to win the race, had he not faced significant delays during the crucial phases of the Grand Prix. Perez lost valuable time during his out laps, finding himself stuck behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, which allowed Oscar Piastri to gain the advantage in track position.
“Without these unfortunate setbacks, I’m confident Checo could’ve taken the win,” Horner lamented. “It was heartbreaking for him to put in all that effort, only to lose a podium spot at the very end.”
Horner elaborated on the reasons behind Perez’s faster pace compared to teammate Max Verstappen at Baku. According to the Red Bull boss, Perez found an optimal rhythm during the race, and his RB20 was better tuned than Verstappen’s, which enabled him to out-qualify the Dutchman for the first time since the 2023 Miami GP. Conversely, Horner speculated that changes made to Verstappen’s car may have hampered his performance, causing him to struggle throughout the weekend.
Perez’s strong driving was evident, but the crash with Sainz sealed his fate, ruining what could have been a standout race for the Mexican driver. Fans were left disappointed as Perez’s hard work was undone, robbing him of a chance to secure an important victory for himself and Red Bull.
Despite the crash and frustrations, Horner maintained his faith in Perez, stating that he had the potential to win but was simply unlucky.
