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Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner outlines that Sergio Perez must improve his one-lap performance next season to ensure
Mexican driver Sergio Perez had a strong start in the 2023 Formula One season, winning two out of the first four races and closing the gap to Max Verstappen in the championship standings. However, he struggled to maintain his momentum and failed to reach Q3 in five consecutive races. This slump caused Perez to finish the season 290 points behind Verstappen, leading to speculation about his future at Red Bull Racing.
Despite the rumors, Perez will continue to race alongside Verstappen in the 2024 season. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that next year will be crucial for Perez, stating that he performs best under pressure. Horner emphasized the importance of Perez delivering strong performances and accumulating points in all 24 races.
Perez’s ability in racecraft and overtaking has been praised, but Horner highlighted the need for him to improve his qualifying speed. Perez has shown promising pace in recent races, but starting higher up the grid will be vital, particularly as Red Bull anticipates a more competitive field in 2024.
Horner stressed the need for both Red Bull drivers to perform at their best to defend the team’s titles. He acknowledged that the competition will be closer next season and stated that Red Bull needs both drivers to be closely matched in order to maximize their chances of success.
