Following the Monaco GP he won, the Mexican is just 15 points behind leader Verstappen , and six behind Ferrari driver Leclerc .
In his first year with the team, in 2021, he had to play a supporting role to help Max Verstappen win the drivers’ championship.
However, this season Pérez has shown a much stronger performance, beating the Dutchman in Saudi Arabia -where he took pole- and again in Monaco -where he took victory-. He also qualified within a tenth of Verstappen in both Australia and Miami .
The controversy of the team orders at the Spanish GP revealed some tension in the group about Pérez’s position, but soon what happened in Monaco and the subsequent confirmation that he has renewed for two years has improved the atmosphere.
Horner insisted that the team does not care which of its drivers wins the world championship.
“We don’t care which one of us is world champion,” he said. “Of course the constructors’ championship is hugely important.”
“But whether it’s Max or Checo, they’re both Red Bull drivers, and they both have the same chances. Of course, it’s a very long season, and they’ll have their ups and downs. But it’s great to have both drivers at the front.”
“Checo is in the best moment of his career, he’s doing a great job. And it’s not a one-time thing. We saw his pole position in Jeddah. And he’s in great form. So it’s fantastic for us. But we need both pilots work the way they do, together.
“Because Ferrari have the fastest car in qualifying, I don’t know if in racing, but they are great rivals, and we have to work collectively to make sure both drivers are ahead of them.
Asked by Motorsport.com if Perez had anything to prove heading into Monaco, Horner said: “He has always enjoyed this track. I remember when he drove for me [in GP2] here, he has always been very strong at this circuit, and especially in the next one, in Azerbaijan”.
“We spoke obviously immediately after the Barcelona race, and there was absolutely no problem.
“He understood very clearly what the picture was, I think he is in a great moment right now, his confidence is high, he is driving very well. And the time gap between him and Max is much, much more even.”
Sergio Pérez himself said that he had no doubts that they are going to let him enjoy the opportunity to fight for victories and the title.
“It’s pretty clear,” he declared. “It went without saying, but it’s clear, I think on my side of the garage it’s clear and within the team as well. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. So it’s pretty clear.”
Verstappen insisted that his friendly relationship with Perez will not be affected even if they are drawn into a title battle.
“Why would that change?” Verstappen said. “We work very well as a team.”
“We always try to optimize the car and work for the team, and we can accept when someone does a good job or does a better job, and I think that’s very important, because that’s how you are respectful of the other.
“And yes, in the end the best man wins, right?”
“We always, of course, try to do our best on the track, but we also have a lot of respect for each other and try to score as many points as possible every weekend for the team.”
