Perez is ‘doing his job and will be our driver in 2024’, Horner insists · RaceFans

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Crimson Bull workforce principal Christian Horner has insisted Sergio Perez’s performances this 12 months meet the workforce’s expectations and dismissed claims he might be changed subsequent season.

Perez signed a two-year deal to stay at Crimson Bull final season. Whereas he has gained two grands prix this 12 months, workforce mate Max Verstappen has gained the opposite 11. Whereas Verstappen is dominating the championship, Perez has repeatedly failed to achieve prime the ultimate 10 in qualifying and end on the rostrum.

Crimson Bull has a status for not tolerating underperformance by its drivers. In 2019 Pierre Gasly was proven the door simply 12 races into his first season with the workforce. Three years earlier Daniil Kvyat was dropped for Verstappen 4 races into his second season at Crimson Bull.

The workforce’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko just lately made feedback suggesting Perez’s place on the workforce subsequent 12 months was unsure. However following final weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Horner insisted they’re happy with Perez’s performances and gained’t exchange him earlier than 2025.

“Checo’s scenario for subsequent 12 months is evident,” mentioned Horner. “He’s a Crimson Bull Racing driver. We’ve got an settlement with him.

“Irrelevant of agreements, we’re happy with the job that he’s doing.”

Perez certified 1.3 seconds slower than Verstappen at Zandvoort, which left him six locations behind his pole-winning workforce mate on the grid. A well-judged name to modify to intermediates when rain hit on lap one put Perez within the lead by 13 seconds at one stage. However Verstappen easily caught and moved ahead of him and Perez completed fourth after spinning throughout one other rain bathe and gathering a penalty for dashing within the pits.

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“You noticed his drive at present,” Horner continued. “He was unfortunate with a pit lane velocity restrict.

“He’s second on the planet championship. He’s the one driver apart from Max to have gained grands prix this 12 months. It’s straightforward to beat up on him when the barometer is so excessive on the opposite aspect. However he will probably be our driver in 2024.”

“If Max wasn’t there, Checo would have gained one other 4 or 5 races,” Horner added. “So he’s doing his job.

“He’s second on the planet championship. You noticed his efficiency at present. He was unfortunate to get the dashing [penalty] and hopefully he can add to his wins earlier than the tip of the 12 months.”

Horner claimed Perez’s performances solely seem sub-par as a result of his workforce mate has set such a excessive benchmark.

“I believe that Max is in a interval of his profession the place he’s simply merely untouchable,” mentioned Horner. “I don’t assume there’s any driver on the grid that will be capable of obtain what he’s been doing in that automotive.

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“Being his workforce mate might be, in some respects, probably the most [un]enviable job to have as a result of the barometer is so excessive.

“Checo’s tempo truly within the race was robust once more. We noticed drivers miss the minimize fully [in qualifying], not even make Q3 once you would’ve anticipated them to. So it’s very, very tough and I believe what we’re witnessing for the time being is a driver that’s generational.”