‘Makes no logical sense’: Christian Horner baffled by Sergio Perez at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Follow us on Google Discover

Sergio Perez is desperate to find form as Formula 1 heads to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Mexican is sat seventh in the championship going into Baku, having not finished on the podium since China, or in fact in the top five since Miami.

The 34-year-old is a driver under pressure to keep his seat at Red Bull, with reports suggesting Perez could be replaced before the season ends. Despite having a contract with the team until 2026, Red Bull have a three-driver shortlist as to who will drive alongside Max Verstappen next season.

What will not help Perez’s case is the sudden lack of performance in the RB20. The team were nowhere near McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes at the Italian Grand Prix as they struggled for pace in sixth and eighth.

Verstappen leads the championship over Lando Norris by 62 points, while McLaren are within touching distance of Red Bull in the constructors’ standings as they sit just eight points behind heading into Baku.

Christian Horner says Sergio Perez performing at Baku ‘makes no logical sense’

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after Saturday’s FP3 session, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner spoke about Perez and his previous success around the Azerbaijan course.

Since Baku joined the calendar in 2017, Red Bull have won four of the six races held, including the last three consecutively.

Two of those wins have come from Perez as he stands as the most successful driver around the circuit.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s life outside F1 from net worth to nickname

And Horner has been left bewildered by this fact as he cannot work out how the Mexican has been able to constantly perform around Baku.

When asked why Perez is so good around the track, he said: “I have no idea. It makes no logical sense in that it’s high-speed, straights with armcos, barriers, 90-degree corners.

“But he’s always been magic around here and I think that if we had a 24-race championship in Azerbaijan, he’d be pretty tough to beat.

“But it’s good to see him finding his confidence. In every session, he’s been on it.”

Red Bull look to have performance around Baku

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has previously favoured Perez, and he has looked on course to continue that streak so far this weekend.

In FP1, Verstappen went fastest while Perez was almost four-tenths back in third as he looked more confident with his machinery.

Perez went even stronger in FP2 as he was just six-thousandths of a second behind the time topper Charles Leclerc. Where they struggled in Monza, Red Bull look to have performance in Baku.

The Mexican out-qualified Verstappen for the first time this season and lines up fourth for the race with the Dutchman sixth. With him not stepping onto the podium since Shanghai, Perez will be eager to end his streak and get a solid result on the board.