Christian Horner names F1 driver Red Bull are ‘backing’ to earn 2025 contract

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has told Sergio Perez that they are ‘backing’ him to secure a contract for the 2025 season but the F1 team have ‘loads of options’.

The 33-year-old is one of 15 Formula 1 drivers set to enter the final year of their contracts in 2024. Red Bull last gave Perez a new deal in May 2022 after he won the Monaco GP. But new terms will stay off the table until deep into next season as Horner wants Perez to deliver first.

Form often alluded Perez during 2023 after his hopes of fighting teammate Max Verstappen for the drivers’ championship collapsed. The Mexican started this year strongly with wins at the Saudi Arabian GP and Azerbaijan GP. But he only made six podiums in the next 18 races.

Sergio Perez watched his 2023 Formula 1 drivers’ title dream collapse

Christian Klien pinpointed the Miami GP as the round that ‘broke’ Perez in his title fight with Verstappen. Andrew Benson also claimed the race this May was ‘an utter, abject humiliation’ for the Guadalajara native. Verstappen beat pole-man Perez for the win from P9 on the grid.

Perez took pole position at the Hard Rock Stadium after Verstappen failed to post a flying lap in Q3. But the Dutchman stormed through the order before also passing Perez with ease for the win. The Mexican then crashed in Q1 for the following Monaco GP and came home P16.

What has Christian Horner said about Sergio Perez’s Red Bull contract?

Qualifying was often Perez’s downfall in 2023 after bowing out after Q1 three times and Q2 six times. Verstappen only failed to reach Q3 twice during the most dominant season in F1’s history. The Miami GP also sparked Verstappen’s record-breaking run of 10 straight victories.

So, team boss Horner admits that Perez’s chances of earning a contract for Red Bull beyond 2024 depend on his results through much of next season. The Milton Keynes team also have plenty of alternative options to target, with 15 Formula 1 driver contracts expiring next year.

“I think the luxury position we’re in is that we’re not in any rush,” Horner said, via quotes by Autosport. “We’ve got loads of options and I think it is Checo’s seat to lose.

“He’s the one that we’re backing. He’s our 2024 driver. And if he does a great job next year, there’s no reason that we wouldn’t extend him into 2025. But it’d be purely based on what he achieves over what will be a large part of the season.”