Christian Horner claims media has ‘tendency to write off’ Sergio Perez after the Mexican secured P2 in Chinese GP Qualifying

Sergio Perez managed to qualify on the front row alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen at the Chinese GP.

Christian Horner claims media has ‘tendency to write off’ Sergio Perez after the Mexican secured P2 in Chinese GP Qualifying

Christian Horner and Sergio Perez (Via: Imago)

Sergio Perez has often been criticized for his failure to match teammate Max Verstappen. However, the Mexican driver has managed to stay at Red Bull with consistent results so far. Now, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner took a dig at the media as Checo went to on secure a front row slot for the Chinese GP.

Horner was delighted after Qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Briton reckoned that it had been a good day for Milton Keynes after Max Verstappen clinched the sprint race victory before taking pole for tomorrow’s race. Moreover, Christian Horner highlighted Sergio Perez‘s second-place start for the race.

Its been a really good Saturday for us, taking the Sprint race win, and the 100th pole position here, with Checo on the front row as well.
Christian Horner said post-qualifying
YouTube video

The Red Bull team boss claimed that the press had a tendency to discard Perez. However, Horner reckoned that the Mexican driver was doing a great job for Milton Keynes. The Briton highlighted Checo’s clear frame of mind this season, as the 34-year-old tries to secure a new contract with the team for next season.

FS Video
You guys have the tendency to right him off. He [Checo] is doing a great job, and he has come into this season with a clear frame of mind. He is doing a great job, and locked out the front row today.
Christian Horner asserted

Christian Horner claims Red Bull ‘can’t rest on laurels’

Red Bull has dominated Formula 1 since the start of the ground-effect era in 2022. Max Verstappen even had a record-breaking campaign last season. However, Ferrari has come much closer to Milton Keynes this season with extensive development over the winter. Christian Horner admitted that the Austrian team needed to keep working on the RB20.

Adrian Newey and Christian Horner
Adrian Newey and Christian Horner (Via: Imago)

The Briton claimed that the team was going to keep pushing. The entire crew back at Milton Keynes was working around the clock to improve the car for the coming races. Christian Horner pointed out that rivals such as Ferrari and McLaren would bring in upgrades in the European leg after the Miami GP. As such, there was no time for Red Bull to rest on its laurels.

You have to keep your head down and keep pushing. All the men and women at Milton Keynes are working hard to improve the car, and when we get back to Europe, I am sure upgrades will come. So, we can't rest on our laurels.
Christian Horner stated

Certainly, Christian Horner and Red Bull remain focused on dominating the 2024 F1 season. The Austrian team aims to bag the drivers’ and constructors’ title once again this season. However, things could be difficult for Milton Keynes in the latter half of the season. As such, it could be crucial for Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to try and clinch another 1-2 this weekend.

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