Helmut Marko has rubbished rumors that Sergio Perez's seat with Red Bull Racing is in jeopardy after The Mexican's recent run of troubled race weekends.
Perez and teammate Max Verstappen traded wins in the first four races of the season, but the Dutchman has since broken loose from his teammate in the championship.
A crash in qualifying in Monaco and a mistake in Q2 in Barcelona that barred him from the Saturday afternoon shootout led to complicated races at both venues for the Mexican who scored just 12 points in Spain where Verstappen reigned supreme once again.
At the Circuit de Catalunya, the fact that Perez started ahead of George Russell on race day – onboard the fastest car on the grid – but was beaten to the checkered flag by the Mercedes driver, who finished third, fueled more concerns for the Red Bull charger's F1 future.
But Marko dismissed the gossip and suggested that Perez will remain with Red Bull until the end of his contract in 2024.
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"It’s all nonsense," the Red Bull motorsport boss told F1-Insider. "Sergio’s place has never been in jeopardy and will never be in jeopardy!
"He is an important element in achieving the goals we have set for this year. We want to finish first and second in the Drivers’ Championship and become Constructors’ World Champion as quickly as possible."
After last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner suggested that falling title pressure would help Perez "relax" and re-find his early season form.
Marko echoed the Briton's comments.
"After his rather weak performances in Miami and Monaco, I just reminded Sergio that he should concentrate on his job," added the Austrian.
"There, he didn’t take advantage of the possibilities that were in him. In the team with Max, he has an opponent who is very difficult to beat. And not just from him, but from all the drivers on the grid at the moment.
"He should therefore concentrate on himself and not try desperately to beat Max. He should be there when things aren’t going optimally for Max.
"Sergio’s good race after the failed qualifying session in Barcelona was again the first step in the right direction."
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