Christian Horner says Red Bull is be unlikely to change its line-up for 2025 if Sergio Perez delivers next season, but should the Mexican fail to fulfil expectations, the team boss says his outfit will consider its options.
In the aftermath of his disastrous weekend in Monaco last May, where he crashed in Q1 in qualifying, Perez lost his footing and suffered a succession of performances that one would qualify as mediocre given that he was at the wheel of a car that was – and remains – the class f its field.
However, Perez's form returned to its best level at Spa where he qualified and finished second behind his teammate Max Verstappen.
The 33-year-old's underperformance relative to the Dutchman and championship leader has led to speculation about his future at Red Bull.
Read also: Horner reveals 'bad habits' picked up by Ricciardo
But Horner reiterated that Perez's seat is one hundred percent secure for 2024. But thereafter, he will be the master of his fate according to the Red Bull team boss.
"We have a contract [with Perez]," Horner told Speedcafe.
"We’re happy with Checo and he will be our driver next year. But for us, it’s always good to have… the whole purpose of AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso before was to be training drivers as potential candidates for Red Bull Racing.
"That’s why, with Nyck [de Vries], it didn’t feel like he was going to be a Red Bull Racing candidate, so then the argument you put is, does it make sense to keep going?"
At the end of 2024, Red Bull will have the opportunity to pluck either one of AlphaTauri's drivers – be it Yuki Tsunoda or Daniel Ricciardo if the two drivers remain with the team next season.
But if necessary Red Bull could also look beyond its own domain for a potential candidate to race alongside Verstappen.
"I think ’25, it’s just good always to have options," Horner added. "I mean, Max is fixed till ’28. Checo’s contract runs the end of next year.
"If Checo delivers, we’ll keep going with Checo. If he doesn’t, for whatever reason, that won’t be just restricted to AlphaTauri drivers.
"Because there’s an awful lot of drivers up and down the pit lane that would like to drive a Red Bull car."
Since Ricciardo's return to the fray in Hungary last month, the Aussie has often been cited as the driver most likely to succeed Perez. But will the eight-time Grand Prix winner still be considered as a safe bet at 36?
"I don’t see age as a barrier," Horner responded. "When I see what Fernando Alonso is doing, and Lewis Hamilton. It’s all about what’s up here [in the mind] that counts."
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