What Red Bull engineers told Christian Horner during ‘animated’ talks about Sergio Perez

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Sergio Perez is suddenly fighting for his future at Red Bull. It was only last month that the team tied him down to a new two-year contract, but they may rip up that deal.

The world champions inserted multiple break clauses into the agreement. They weren’t expected to become relevant until 2025 as Perez tried to guarantee a second year.

But if he’s more than 100 points behind Max Verstappen by the summer break, then Red Bull are reportedly in a position to axe him. The gap is currently 137 with just two races to go, so it’s unrealistic to think Perez could make it up.

The Mexican earned his new deal with some solid displays in the opening races. He completed a one-two behind Verstappen at three of the first four Grands Prix, and also finished on the podium at round five in China.

But after a respectable P4 in Miami, his season unravelled. He went three races without reaching Q3 and suffered DNFs in both Monaco and Canada.

He would finish in the minor points places in both Spain and Austria before rumours about his future emerged at the British Grand Prix. Perez’s miserable weekend at Silverstone would only have fuelled them.

Red Bull engineers aired constructors’ title concerns around Sergio Perez

Perez, knowing he needed to deliver, was caught out in the changeable conditions during Q1. After fitting slick tyres, he encountered lingering water on the run towards Copse and slid off the track, beaching his RB20 in the gravel.

He asked if the marshals could push him back onto the tarmac but this would have prevented him from taking any further part in the session. He ultimately qualified 19th but opted to start from the pitlane so he could change his setup.

After the session, Red Bull engineers were seen having an ‘animated’ conversation with team boss Christian Horner underneath their trackside offices. It’s understood that Perez was the subject of their discussion.

According to Motorsport.com, the team staff made Horner ‘fully aware’ of the ‘growing feeling’ that the 34-year-old was endangering the defence of their constructors’ title. This has become a ‘serious cause for concern’.

Christian Horner told Max Verstappen would reject ‘annoying’ teammate

With Perez starting at the back of the field, Red Bull predictably gambled early on. They were one of the first to pit when it started raining, but the track was too dry for intermediates and he lost seconds upon seconds before having to pit again for a fresh set.

Perez ultimately crossed the line a dismal 17th, and while Verstappen picked up 18 points, rivals still made inroads. Mercedes got 25 through Lewis Hamilton, and more significantly, McLaren added 27 to their tally.

The Woking outfit are now 78 points adrift and the formbook suggests they’ll overtake Ferrari for second place in Hungary. Horner previously rejected the idea that McLaren had an advantage due to the greater consistency of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but that’s increasingly holding true.

Red Bull may ultimately base their decision not on Perez, but on the strength of the alternatives. Peter Windsor has warned that Verstappen won’t want an ‘annoying’ teammate like Nico Hulkenberg, instead preferring a driver he can comfortably beat.