SUZUKA, JAPAN – APRIL 06: Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks to Mexico’s Sergio Perez and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during qualifying ahead of the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Circuit on April 06, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
In a surprising twist, Perez delivered as expected and secured second place on the starting grid for the Japanese race last Sunday, narrowly missing out on pole position to Max Verstappen by just 0.066s. During the race, the Mexican driver showed a solid performance, finishing in second place. This achievement contributed to Red Bull’s third one-two finish in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race in Suzuka, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner revealed that he had made a bet with Perez to secure a front row position. Despite winning the bet, Perez claimed he owed the same amount of money to Bernie Ecclestone, passing on the bet to the former F1 boss. Horner humorously commented on Ecclestone’s ability to make money even without being present at the race.
Perez’s contract with Red Bull Racing is set to expire at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season. With the current “Crazy Season” in full swing, as drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and Fernando Alonso are looking for new opportunities, Perez’s future with the team remains uncertain. However, his consistent performance throughout 2024 should convince Red Bull to keep him for the 2025 season. Perez himself remains calm about his future, acknowledging that he has had a successful career in Formula 1 so far and believes the right opportunity will come. He expects the driver market to experience significant movements in the coming weeks and anticipates having a clearer picture of his plans for next year within a month. Despite the speculations, Red Bull Consultant Helmut Marko stated that the team is not in a rush to make a decision about their driver lineup for 2025.
Horner, echoing Marko’s sentiments, acknowledges the early activity in this year’s driver market. He emphasizes that Red Bull is not in a hurry to make a decision and recognizes the high level of interest in their cars. Although he had previously mentioned the possibility of looking beyond their current group of drivers, Horner states that Perez remains the top choice. He reiterates that Perez is the priority and that it will take a few more races before they seriously consider their options for next year. Horner praises Perez’s exceptional performance, noting that he qualified less than a tenth of a second behind Max Verstappen, marking his best qualifying performance in Suzuka. He praises Perez’s growing confidence and strong race performance, stating that he is doing exactly what is expected of him.
