Sergio Pérez Hasn’t Lost The Faith Of Horner

If there was a season that perhaps once again highlighted the shortcomings of Sergio Pérez and the struggles or woes that the man from Mexico has been experiencing in Motorsport’s top flight, then this is it.

The 2024 Formula 1 season, far from over and having not yet reached even the halfway stage, is clearly showing two different narratives where the Red Bull team is concerned. And while at the outset, the difference is clear, the saga is pretty much the same. One driver is right on top of the rankings, while the other, who is mostly seen playing catch up, is found struggling.

You know their names and you know where to slot them.

But while not an awful lot has changed for Max Verstappen apart from the multiple world champion finding good competition at the behest of Norris and Leclerc, most notably, Sergio Pérez still finds himself in a bit of doldrums. The level of criticism, harsh, bitter even might be tanking up given the experienced Red Bull driver hasn’t delivered a fantastic result in several races, it appears no love is lost for the man nicknamed Checo.

But let’s first look at some perspective.

Thus far, from the 10 races that have been rendered complete, Sergio Pérez has not scored a podium, which considering the capability of his machine shouldn’t be much hard, in five races.

It was back in the returning Chinese Grand Prix of 2024 where Perez last scored a fighting third. Since the, he has registered a DNF twice and as seen recently, emerged eighth in Canada. On the other hand his teammate gave it everything until the end to win yet another race, scoring a hat-trick of wins at the Spanish Grand Prix.

And despite all of that, despite Perez clearly looking out of sorts, it is quite clear that Christian Horner hasn’t left him out cold in a corner. Even as Perez may be confronting doubts over his form, in the aftermath of the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, Horner alluded to the fact that the team was still scoring points regularly and extending their lead at the top of the Constructor charts.

He was of the view that Perez, who is regarded as being a team-man, knows his job, is aware of his strengths as a driver. Horner also hoped that it would take Sergio Pérez just a race or two, at the most to rediscover that lost form that currently makes him look patchy or out of sorts.

Surely, one would like a team principal like Horner, it could be argued. Even as the noted Mexican extended his Red Bull stint, finding recently a contract extension that sees him alongside the reigning Dutch champion, Perez hasn’t really bounced back.

Not that he can’t, but the key question is, when will he?