Red Bull boss Christian Horner has admitted it has to “look at the facts” regarding Sergio Perez‘s place with the team amid another torrid Formula 1 weekend in Brazil.
Perez headed into the Sao Paulo Grand Prix desperate to claim a positive result having ended his home event in Mexico the previous weekend with a point-less return.
But while he delivered a strong fightback in the Sprint to secure the final point, Perez produced an unspectacular run in the main race as he trailed home in 11th place.
The Mexican hindered his own prospects at the outset when a spin as he applied the throttle exiting Turn 10 on the opening lap dropped his Red Bull right to the back.
Nevertheless, Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen demonstrated that progress was possible in the wet conditions as he surged from 17th on the grid to win the race.
Perez had recovered to 10th place when a tussle with RB’s Liam Lawson halted his momentum and a wide moment into Turn 4 allowed Lewis Hamilton to sneak past.
With Verstappen returning Red Bull to winning ways, Horner conceded that Perez not scoring again was a bitter blow to the team’s Constructors’ Championship hopes.
“It was a difficult race for Checo, spinning at the beginning of the race drops him down,” Horner told media including Motorsport Week.
“Today was an opportunity in the Constructors to take a big chunk out of both Ferrari and McLaren.
“Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to capitalise on that, so obviously that’s frustrating.
“But we’ll go away and have a look at it and come back hopefully fighting hard in Vegas.”
Verstappen was head and shoulders above the rest in the damp as he made up six places on the opening lap and sliced past several others in the nascent exchanges.
Asked whether there was a reason to explain Perez not being able to replicate Verstappen, Horner replied: “I haven’t sat in the debrief, I haven’t heard his comments.
“But there was nothing evident to me in the race.”
Horner coy on potential Red Bull change
Perez’s poor outing means he has contributed a meagre 20 points in the seven rounds to have been held since the summer break, less than Verstappen’s Brazil total.
With Red Bull residing third in the standings behind McLaren and Ferrari, Horner expressed last weekend that “difficult decisions” have to be made on Perez’s position.
Questioned on whether the point to make a driver swap was edging closer, Horner answered: “I think everything in life is subjective and you’ve got to look at the facts.
“We’re working hard with Checo, he had a chassis change this weekend. I thought he drove a good race yesterday, but today wasn’t his day.”
Red Bull admire Colapinto’s talent
Meanwhile, Horner remained reticent on growing speculation that Red Bull is holding discussions with Williams over a potential move to sign rookie Franco Colapinto.
“Sergio Perez is our current driver,” he stated. “Liam Lawson did a super job again today, and Yuki [Tsunoda]. Liam, particularly, considering his experience.
“Franco is another talent. So, of course, you’re always keeping an eye on the market of how things are developing.”
READ MORE – Red Bull details difference between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s F1 cars
