Perez seizing Red Bull opportunity "with both hands" - Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has praised the attitude of new signing Sergio Perez.

Perez has replaced Alex Albon for the new season having impressed during his time at Racing Point, taking his maiden grand prix victory last year in Sakhir.

The Mexican endured a torrid season during his first 'dream drive' at McLaren, with his sole season at the team in 2013 coinciding with the beginning of the Woking-based outfit's decline.

Red Bull has taken a chance on the 31-year-old after he was dropped by Racing Point in favour of Sebastian Vettel and Horner believes his new driver is making the most of his reprieve.

“I think he has settled in very well," he said. "He has been around for a while. He’s a popular member in the paddock and I think you can see why.

"He’s an easy guy to get along with. He’s been doing all his homework, working hard over the winter, he’s really grabbing this opportunity with both hands.

“It’s good to see the two drivers and also Alex here as well working with the two drivers, so that’s such an important part of the team and the dynamic of the team as we develop this car.”

Racing Point has been powered by Mercedes since 2009 and last year ran a car that bore a striking resemblance to the previous year's championship-winning W10, earning itself the 'Pink Mercedes' nickname.

The knowledge brought to the team by Perez, although representative only for this season due to the aggressive new aerodynamic regulations coming into force in 2022, will be invaluable to Red Bull - a fact not lost on the Mexican's new team-mate Max Verstappen.

“I think it is mainly information from the years he has done at another team with a different power unit, stuff like that," said the Dutchman.

“He can transfer to the team his findings and the differences. I hope it can help the team or at least give some different ideas about a few things.”

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