Sergio Perez received praise from everyone in the paddock for delivering satisfactory results this year. Christian Horner and Sergio Perez have had consistent performances since the beginning of the 2024 season. Speculations about Perez being replaced by Red Bull next season have started to lose credibility. The Mexican driver is likely to continue with Red Bull even after his contract ends in 2024. Therefore, amid Perez’s impressive performance, Horner urged the team to continue with the 34-year-old driver.
Horner was straightforward in explaining the reasons for Perez’s continuation at Red Bull. Szafnaeur recalled being asked about his opinion on finding a replacement for Perez. However, the former team boss stated that if he were in Horner’s position, he would replace Perez with the Mexican himself (Checo). The Romanian-American emphasized his understanding of the importance of the 34-year-old driver for the Austrian team. However, Horner recently downplayed the likelihood of replacing the Mexican driver.
Furthermore, Szafnaeur recalled the highly controversial 2021 season and how Sergio Perez played a crucial role in Red Bull’s title win. The 59-year-old man stated that Perez’s contribution was a significant factor in their victory. The former team boss encouraged everyone to consider Perez’s overall performances and not just focus on the most recent race. However, Szafnaeur acknowledged that the 39-year-old driver had some tough moments this season, but still exceeded expectations in the 2024 season.
Szafnaeur remembered his time with Sergio Perez at Force India (currently Aston Martin) and praised the 34-year-old driver’s performance at that time. The former team boss pointed out that there were practically no doubts or confusion about Perez’s performance during a race. Szafnaeur explained that he never had to question the Mexican driver’s decisions on the track. However, the 59-year-old man recalled an incident from the Singapore GP, where Perez got frustrated and collided with a Williams car.
Szafnaeur believes that, most of the time, Perez stands out in overtaking. The former team boss also added that the Mexican driver is skillful in passing while minimizing errors during a race. As a result, Perez’s chances of continuing with Red Bull remain highly positive. Only time will tell how Perez will fare throughout the 2024 season to secure his position.
So far, Sergio Perez has not made major mistakes in the 2024 season and is closely following Max Verstappen in second place. The Mexican driver simply needs to maintain such positive performances and replicate his success from last season. Perez must stay focused and ensure he consistently finishes in second place behind his teammate, establishing an early advantage in the drivers’ championship.
