Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing celebrates his second place finish in the parc ferme area with Chalerm Yoovidhya, co-owner of Red Bull Racing, and Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing. This occurred on March 2, 2024, during the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is part of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Christian Horner, the boss of Red Bull Formula 1, believes that there are up to 16 drivers who would be interested in the available seat at the team for the 2025 season. However, he emphasizes that Sergio Perez is currently the frontrunner for the position. Perez is in the final year of his contract with Red Bull and is facing pressure to secure a renewal after a challenging season last year, where he finished 290 points behind Max Verstappen.
Red Bull’s dominant performance in the latest ground effect era of F1 has carried on into 2024, with Verstappen leading the team to consecutive 1-2 finishes at the start of the current season. Despite finishing 22 seconds behind his teammate in Bahrain, Perez’s performance in the season opener was praised by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko as a significant accomplishment.
Horner reiterates that Red Bull’s preference is to retain Perez as Verstappen’s partner for the 2025 season. However, he acknowledges that the team has plenty of other options to consider. Horner comments, “We have an exceptional car. We have one seat available for next year. I have around 16 drivers who are eager to occupy that seat. But Checo is currently in the leading position. It is his seat to lose.”
Verstappen’s future with Red Bull has been the subject of speculation following an investigation into Horner. While Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing, Max’s father, Jos, expressed doubts about Horner’s position as the head of Red Bull. Both Horner and Verstappen have expressed their desire for the partnership to continue, but the Red Bull F1 boss emphasizes that no individual is more important than the team. He praises Verstappen’s performance on the track and states that the team’s focus is on their racing endeavors. When asked about others taking a similar stance, he suggests that too much has already been said by outside parties and reiterates the importance of the team as a whole. Horner maintains that the ongoing tension does not affect the team and implies that Verstappen will not be forced to stay with Red Bull if he doesn’t want to. He emphasizes that the team’s performance is the top priority for everyone involved, from top to bottom, and that individuals who don’t want to be part of the team are not forced to stay. People work in this sport and for this team because they are passionate about it, and it is this passion that enables them to achieve exceptional results. This passion and commitment are the essence of Red Bull Racing’s DNA and will continue to drive them forward for the next 20 years and beyond.