Sergio Perez will keep his seat at Red Bull and continue as Max Verstappen’s partner into the second part of the season, Christian Horner has told the team.
Talks took place on Monday over Perez’s future after the team’s motorsport adviser Helmut Marko said the Mexican driver “completely collapsed” in the Belgian Grand Prix.
Perez was under pressure to deliver a positive result in Sunday’s race having scored just 21 points across the previous seven rounds.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Christian Horner answers a ‘brutally hard’ question concerning Sergio Perez’s extended contract with Red Bull following the Mexican’s drop in form in recent races
An improved qualifying display earned him second on the grid, but Perez fell backwards in the race to finish eighth (later promoted to seventh due to George Russell’s disqualification), three places behind Verstappen, who had started 11th after serving a grid penalty.
There had been speculation that Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson, or one of the drivers at their junior squad RB, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda, could replace Perez.
However, having earlier confirmed that Perez’s future would be on the agenda at a meeting on Monday, Horner has since confirmed the Mexican will not be replaced.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
An eventful opening lap sees Lewis Hamilton overtake Sergio Perez for second place
Horner said to the Red Bull team: “Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver despite recent speculation and we look forward to seeing him perform at tracks he has previously excelled at after the summer break.”
Formula 1 returns after the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on August 23-25, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime