What Christian Horner said about Sergio Perez’s future when addressing Red Bull factory this week

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Sergio Perez looks set to see out the 2024 season at the very least. He endured a miserable weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix but there’s little indication that the team will make an immediate change.

Reports at the beginning of the weekend claimed Red Bull could drop Perez for Las Vegas if he didn’t deliver in Brazil. Liam Lawson would replace him, with Isack Hadjar filling the hole at RB.

But even though Perez only scored one point across the Sprint and qualifying, he seems to be safe in the short term. This three-week break is the last viable opportunity for dreams to alter their line-ups before the season-ending triple-header.

The bigger question is whether the Mexican is secure beyond that. Ever since his strong return at the US Grand Prix, Lawson has looked the favourite to partner Verstappen.

Perez hasn’t been able to deliver the kind of results that show it’s worth persisting. Since the Miami GP, when he finished a respectable fourth, he’s only once placed in the top six.

Martin Brundle thinks Red Bull could face contractual issues if they do decide to axe Perez. The 34-year-old signed a new deal in June, ostensibly guaranteeing him a seat in 2025 and opening up an option for 2026.

Christian Horner told Red Bull staff Sergio Perez had to ‘up his game’

According to Formula Passion, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner addressed the Red Bull factory earlier this week. This was likely a routine event on the back of the USA-Mexico-Brazil triple-header.

For the most part, Horner was focused on celebrating Verstappen’s unbelievable victory at Interlagos. His charge from 17th ranks as one of the best wins in Red Bull history.

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However, Horner also dropped a ‘hint’ about the future of Perez. He’s made it clear that driver number 11 is ‘safe’ for now, with no ‘lightning replacement’ planned for the last three races.

But echoing the message he’s delivered in public, he acknowledged that ‘Perez must step up his game and improve his performances’. Fail to do so by the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, and a promotion for Lawson ‘could quickly gain traction’.

Eddie Jordan names the driver who should replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull

Former F1 team boss Gian Carlo Minardi thinks Lawson ‘ridiculed’ Perez in Brazil. The two drivers battled in both the Sprint and qualifying, finishing the weekend with a 1-1 draw.

That ‘scoreline’ looks an awful lot better for Lawson, who missed out on the final point in the Sprint but took ninth in the race while Perez finished 11th. Speaking over the radio, he said he’d ‘never seen anything like’ his rival’s driving.

Eddie Jordan has told Red Bull to target Carlos Sainz as a successor to Perez. Even though he’s contracted to Williams for 2025, Jordan wouldn’t rule out a deal.

Horner says Red Bull won’t sign Sainz, respecting the agreement he’s already made. But that stance may change in one or two years’ time if they can extricate him from his deal.