Christian Horner claims that 16 drivers are interested in a 2025 Red Bull seat

Christian Horner sees a lot of demand for the Red Bull seat in the market.

Christian Horner claims that 16 drivers are interested in a 2025 Red Bull seat

Max verstappen, Sergio Perez and Christian Horner (Via IMAGO)

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner asserts that Sergio Perez is still in “pole positions” for the 2025 seat but has also confirmed that 16 more drivers from the current grid are interested in replacing him. Perez’s current deal with Red Bull is set to expire at the end of 2024 season and the Austrian team is open to sign a new driver if necessary.

Max Verstappen‘s dominating performance in Formula 1, has created a lot of pressure on Sergio Perez as the pace gap is too much for him to close down. He has shown some improvement compared to last year by securing P2 in the first two Grand Prix’s of the season, but the gap with Verstappen was too significant for Red Bull to overlooked yet. Hence, Christian Horner has reminded the Mexican that though he is the pole postion, there is 16 more drivers interested in replacing him.

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We have a phenomenal car. We’ve got one seat open for next year. I’ve probably got 16 drivers that are desperate to be in that car for next year. And Checo is in pole position. It’s his seat to lose.
Christian Horner told MotorsportWeek.

Sergio Perez comments on Red Bull pressure

Sergio Perez clarified that Red Bull standards are different to anyone else and highlighted is as the reason why drivers in the past couldn’t stayed at team. In the past couple years there were various drivers who came up in Red Bull up before Perez arriving in Red Bull such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon etc.

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Christian Horner and Sergio Perez
Christian Horner and Sergio Perez

Due to their poor performance these drivers either left Red Bull or were free from Red Bull. Perez became the first non-Red Bull driver to join Red Bull, after Mark Webber in 2007 when he signed in 2021. Perez is entering in his fourth season with Red Bull and is expecting to stay for at least a couple of years. 

There’s always pressure in Formula 1, you have to remember that we are at the pinnacle of the sport. So there’s always pressure, you always have to deliver at all conditions, at all races, that’s normal. But at Red Bull, it certainly has changed a bit. I mean, there’s a reason why lots of drivers haven’t survived, because the amount of pressure, the amount of focus on yourself, they don’t measure the same, all the teams – I feel like how they measure at Red Bull is different to any anyone else.
Sergio Perez said.

Perez has started to perform very well this season while backing up his teammate Max Verstappen, finishing a Red Bull a 1-2 finish. Red Bull reportedly wants to find a good teammate for Verstappen who can challenge him hard in the same machinery. Even if he loses the seat, the experience and expertise he possesses might give Perez an opportunity in the remaining nine teams at least for one more season.

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