Christian Horner expects 'perfect team player' Perez's fortunes to change

Red Bull

Horner expects 'perfect team player' Perez's fortunes to change

Perez has endured a mixed season after joining from Racing Point in the winter

Sam Hall

Monday 20 September 2021 08:00

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes "it's all going to come together" for Sergio Perez after "some bad luck" so far this season.

Perez is fifth in the drivers' standings 14 races into his Red Bull career with a win in Azerbaijan offset by erroneous races and qualifying struggles.

After recently being re-signed for 2022 and playing the team game in Italy before missing out on a podium as a result of a penalty, Horner is confident the tide will turn for the Mexican.

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"The way he behaved at Monza giving his teammate the tow in each of the sessions, he performed the perfect role as a team player and it was a shame he wasn’t on the podium," said Horner.

"But we have some good races coming up for Checo and I have a feeling it’s going to come together. He’s had some bad luck and I think that will turn."

Of the new deal extended to Perez, Horner added: "In the middle of the three races, we confirmed that Checo would be remaining with the team for 2022.

"We felt he’d done enough to warrant another contract. He knew his role this year; to help Max [Verstappen] and the team win the title, but of course with a brand-new car for 2022, with the experience he has, it was the right and logical choice to keep him."

Red Bull expect Dutch chaos to repeat in Mexican grandstands

The current F1 schedule has the Mexican Grand Prix lined up to take place from November 5-7.

After experiencing the passion of Verstappen's home fans at the Dutch GP, Horner expects a similar feeling at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

"The Mexican GP is going to be something special," said Horner.

"I think we can expect to see scenes similar to Zandvoort. It will be brilliant for Checo to experience that level of home support and I’m sure it will inspire him to produce something special. We’re all really looking forward to it."