P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has argued that it is “impossible to know” whether the team could have won the F1 title in 2024 had it axed Sergio Perez mid-season.
Despite Max Verstappen winning the Drivers’ Championship, Red Bull lost the Constructors’ crown to McLaren for the first time since 2022. Verstappen finished 63 points ahead of Lando Norris, but Red Bull couldn’t secure a double title due to Sergio Perez’s struggles. Perez’s poor performance led to him losing his seat, with Liam Lawson replacing him as Verstappen’s teammate in 2025. Red Bull’s senior management considered replacing Perez earlier during the season due to his poor form, but ultimately decided to stick with him. However, Perez’s gap of 285 points to Verstappen resulted in Red Bull finishing third in the Constructors’ Championship behind McLaren and Ferrari. Christian Horner admitted that attempting to revive Perez’s season through a contract renewal in June didn’t work out as expected, despite Perez’s past contributions to the team’s success.
