Sergio Pérez’s Method 1 future stays one of many greatest speaking factors on the grid because the season winds down.
However the Purple Bull driver has simply obtained his greatest vote of confidence but from Workforce Principal Christian Horner.
Talking to the media forward of the USA Grand Prix, the Purple Bull boss made it clear that not solely is Pérez beneath contract by 2024, however stories that his place with the staff are contingent upon ending second within the Drivers’ Championship are nicely off the mark.
“However there’s no pre-mandate on Checo that it’s a must to end second otherwise you received’t be driving the automotive subsequent yr. That’s by no means been mentioned,” mentioned Horner to RaceFans.
As issues stand forward of the USA Grand Prix, Pérez has only a 27-point lead over Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton picked up three extra factors in his pursuit of Pérez in Saturday’s F1 Dash race, ending in second place, three spots forward of Pérez in fifth.
“He really drove a fairly first rate race,” Horner mentioned of Pérez’s effort within the F1 Dash. “He made first rate progress.
“I believe his race might be okay, his specific problem has been on the one-lap, qualifying. Whenever you qualify out of place it simply places you beneath extra strain. Hopefully he can have race and take some confidence out of that.”
Perez will begin right this moment’s race from seventh. “I believe when it comes to the work he’s executed up to now, the unlucky factor for him is that the entire grid has [constricted] a bit, significantly in qualifying, so the superb margins turn out to be very costly,” Horner added.
As Horner made clear, there isn’t any requirement for Pérez to complete second to maintain his seat. Moreover, such a requirement may be unfair, provided that Purple Bull has by no means seen its two drivers end first and second within the Driver’s Championship.
“There’s no pre-mandate like that,” he mentioned. “We’ve by no means completed first and second in a championship, we completed first and third just a few instances with Mark [Webber] and Sebastian [Vettel], we completed it final yr with Max and Checo.
“With this automotive, it could be incredible in such a season that we’ve had, if we may end first and second.”
Nonetheless, if Pérez finally falls quick, it won’t value him his seat.
