Christian Horner names Perez contract decision date as Red Bull ‘not short of options’

Christian Horner Perez says the decision date on his Red Bull contract is “not much of an option”.

Sergio Perez’s current contract with Red Bull expires at the end of the 2024 season, with several names vying to replace him.

Christian Horner has given Sergio Perez nine months to secure his future. (Image: Getty)

As the battle for Max Verstappen’s next team-mate heats up, Christian Horner has given Sergio Perez “nine months” to secure his long-term future at Red Bull. The Mexican driver’s contract expires at the end of the 2024 season and his team bosses have indicated that several alternatives await him.

2023 was a difficult season for Perez. The 33-year-old looked like a genuine title contender at the start of the year after winning two grands prix in four races, but that optimism quickly faded after Verstappen began a 10-race winning streak from round five .

Perez’s decline has been so dramatic that it has sparked debate about his future beyond the 2023 season. Fortunately for both sides, his form returned over the last three races and Horner’s unwavering faith in his co-driver was rewarded with a first Drivers’ Championship trophy or two for Red Bull.

However, the pressure will soon be back on Perez’s shoulders as his current contract expires at the end of the season. With Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda impressing for AlfaTauri last season, Horner has two solid replacements waiting for their chance and that’s before he looks for outside alternatives.

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Asked about the future beyond next season, Horner told PlanetF1: “This is Checo’s place.” “He’s in the car because we think he’s the right driver right now.

“They need to use the next nine months to show that we’re thinking the same way in 2025. Of course, we have a lot of talent like Daniel, Liam [Lawson] and Yuki. So time will tell.”

Despite the pressure from Perez ahead of the 2024 season, Horner believes his driver has what it takes to go one step further in beating Verstappen. Red Bull are looking to defend both world championships next season and with the venues closed this winter, both drivers will need to be on top form.

“I think the conversations we had last winter were very positive,” Horner said. “I think he knows what to do. He’s played enough sports and has enough experience so I’m confident he’ll be firing on all cylinders.