Perez “knows what the situation is” as Red Bull exit set after Abu Dhabi GP

Christian Horner insists Sergio Perez is “old enough and wise enough to know what the situation is” as Red Bull appears set to split with the Mexican after Abu Dhabi.

Perez will finish only eighth in the drivers’ standings despite team-mate Max Verstappen winning his fourth title, with the 34-year-old’s shortcomings largely to blame for the team’s inability to keep McLaren and Ferrari at bay in the constructors’ standings.

After a number of underwhelming qualifying results, the Qatar Grand Prix weekend again proved challenging for Perez, who scored no points.

He was eliminated in SQ1 on Friday, before blowing his pitlane start for the sprint race when failing to acknowledge the green light.

Having run in the points in the grand prix, after ending a run of three races in which he’d failed to reach Q3, Perez spun behind the safety car before his RB20 ground to a halt.

On the issue that ended his race, Horner explained: “We’re just investigating the exact failure but it looks like, obviously he’s spun the car and as he dropped the clutch, the clutch had too much temperature go through it.

“So yes, one of those things. But more to come after we’ve stripped the car.”

Pointing to his errors across the weekend, Horner reflected: “We sent him to the end of the pit lane seven minutes ahead of Colapinto for a reason.

“Checo’s contributed a huge amount to this team in the four years that he’s been here. The world championship that Max achieved in ’21, the constructors’ world championships in ’22 and ’23 and obviously this year has been particularly hard.

“He’s won five Grand Prix for us and he’s had some outstanding performances in races like Singapore, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, to name a few.

“Everybody holds Checo in the highest of regard and respect, but obviously, the situation that we’re in is as painful for him as it is for the team.”

With it looking increasingly likely that Red Bull will break its partnership with Perez at the end of the season following this weekend’s finale at Yas Marina, Horner added: “Checo has had a very tough year and obviously the points, the tables are what they are.

“We’re very much focused on really supporting him to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s not an enjoyable situation for Checo being in this position with speculation every week. He’s old enough and wise enough to know what the situation is and let’s see where we are after Abu Dhabi.”

It is understood that Red Bull’s shareholders will meet on the Monday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to firm up the team’s driver plans for 2025.

And while the team is publicly saying little about Perez’s future, it is understood that the plan is for it to replace the Mexican next year with one of the current RB duo.

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team, Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

What still needs to be sorted out though is the terms of their partnership ending, with him having originally signed a contract – albeit with break clauses – into next year.

In terms of potential replacements, Liam Lawson remains favourite to be given the nod, but Yuki Tsunoda could yet get himself in the frame if he impresses in a Red Bull test he has in Abu Dhabi on the Tuesday after the season finale.

Speaking to ViaPlay on Sunday, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said things will become clear next week.

“There is a meeting Monday after Abu Dhabi,” he said. “All the major people are there, all of the shareholders, and there a decision will be done.

“We always – or most of the time – brought our own drivers through the Red Bull programme and I think it’s a philosophical decision: do we stick to that? And what I got from the shareholders is it will be in this direction.”

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble

Watch: Verstappen Brilliant As The FIA Baffles In Qatar – How The Race Unfolded At Lusail