Christian Horner has confirmed that Crimson Bull will maintain talks over the way forward for Sergio Perez on Monday, after the workforce’s motorsport adviser Helmut Marko mentioned the Mexican driver would “Whole collapse” on the Belgian Grand Prix.
Perez went into Formulation 1’s closing race earlier than the summer time break beneath heavy strain, having scored simply 21 factors within the first seven rounds, a feat he achieved.
An improved qualifying efficiency earned him second place, however Perez fell behind within the race and completed eighth (later promoted to seventh because of George Russell’s disqualification), behind him Teammate Max Verstappen was third, who began from eleventh place after serving.
Marco instructed sky germany: “Sergio had an opportunity to do nicely from second place. Sadly, that was not the case. Particularly within the final cease, he fully collapsed.
“Sadly, what appeared so optimistic in qualifying did not materialize within the race.”
Each Horner and Marko confirmed that Crimson Bull will maintain a gathering on Monday earlier than the workforce shuts down for the F1 summer time break later this week, throughout which Perez’s future might be on the agenda.
“Issues are continuously being analyzed,” Horner mentioned. “Now we have a gathering on Monday, however it’s not nearly Checo. There are different subjects on the agenda, which we all the time do earlier than the summer time holidays.”
There was hypothesis in latest weeks that Perez might be changed by Crimson Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson or one of many Crimson Bull Junior Group RB drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda substitute.
Crimson Bull signed Perez to a two-year contract extension lower than two months in the past. Giving up on Perez mid-season would have been embarrassing for Crimson Bull, however his poor kind has seen McLaren transfer into the constructors’ championship. The hole narrowed to 42 factors.
Talking about Monday’s assembly, Marco added: “For us, the scenario is such that we’ll additionally take a look at the general scenario in 2025. Now we have some drivers, now we have an idea.”
“However in fact, each result’s [important] For Sergio, going from second to eighth was actually not what we anticipated.
Horner: It is unhappy to see Perez struggling
Horner has publicly supported Perez throughout his poor efficiency and mentioned witnessing his driver’s struggles “took a toll” on him personally.
“Nobody needs to see Checo in hassle, everybody needs to see him succeed,” he mentioned. “The workforce was and nonetheless is behind him. It saddens me to see the scenario he is in now.
“Checo has not carried out nicely in the previous few races. What confuses us is that he has began the season very nicely. He carried out nicely in qualifying.
“We have to look carefully and perceive the problems within the recreation and now we have time to try this.”
Horner advised Perez might have been given extra time to show issues round, however Crimson Bull are identified for making ruthless selections on their driver line-up.
“Nobody needs to decide like this,” he added. “You discuss it day by day. Within the workforce we wish to maintain him going and perceive him.
“He is as keenly conscious as anybody that we’d like efficiency from each automobiles, which is what we had in the beginning of the 12 months and what we have to get again to.”
Perez hopes to enhance ‘understanding’ throughout break
Perez’s hopes of a powerful race have been dampened when he misplaced a place in the beginning of the race to Lewis Hamilton, however he steadied himself and went robust within the first interval, then Did not carry out nicely on the second set of tires.
“We misplaced to Lewis however the first interval went nicely,” he instructed us Sky Sports activities F1. “I held Piastri again and we have been in third. However then into the middle lane, caught in site visitors, we misplaced Piastri’s place. We have been actually gradual within the straight line and that was us Want to know.
“On the second pit cease we have been too demanding on the tires and ended up doing solely 10 laps, which affected the entire race as a result of I ended up doing an extended pit cease on the arduous floor, so general , our tires are weak.
Perez has expressed confidence that he is not going to get replaced earlier than the tip of the season and stays sure that would be the case when expressing his need for the summer time break.
“It is about actually focusing with the workforce on what we have performed with the automobile over the previous few races,” he mentioned.
“The best way we ended right this moment, I assumed it was a very good race to see what we have been doing with the tires. Then go from there.
“I believe that is crucial factor and what now we have to do as a workforce.”
Formulation 1 returns after the summer time break with the Dutch Grand Prix happening in Zandvoort from August 23 to 25, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Watch every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Monthly Membership – no contract, cancel anytime