Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has made it clear that
there is no doubt Sergio Perez will be with the team next season.
Perez has been under intense scrutiny for a series of lacklustre
performances ever since securing two of the first four race
victories this season. Despite holding a contract for next season,
the Mexican’s place alongside Max Verstappen has come under
question repeatedly and only increased in intensity when Daniel
Ricciardo made his F1 comeback with AlphaTauri mid-season. Horner
and Motorsport Advisor Helmet Marko have consistently, albeit
tentatively, confirmed Perez’s presence with the team next season,
though rumoured targets were circulated on social media ahead of
the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend. Speaking after a third-place
finish for Perez in the Interlagos Sprint, Horner told media
including RacingNews365.com : “I am absolutely confident and clear
that Checo will be our driver next year. “Now, if he was injured or
something like that, then they are circumstances beyond your
control. “But the clear intention is that he will continue here.
“We’re planning to continue, we have announced the AlphaTauri
drivers, we have our Red Bull drivers and that is how we intend to
go racing in 2024.” Perez equipped with ‘very thick skin’ Asked if
the constant noise surrounding Perez’s performances and future has
affected the synergy between him and the rest of the Red Bull team,
Horner replied: “It hasn’t because it is only noise on the outside.
“I’m sure it does [affect him] but I think what we’ve seen with
him, or one of his strengths, is he has a very thick skin. “Yeah,
many times he’s picked himself up, brushed himself and got back up
again.”
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