After a relatively silent 2021 partnership between Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, things are spicing up at Red Bull. We already saw the fiasco that ensued toward the end of the Brazilian GP, with Max getting away without any punishment as Christian Horner took the blame on himself and the team. So, will there be a shift in the team’s dynamics now that Sergio Perez will put in more effort for the championship?

Red Bull has always claimed that it lets its drivers compete equally, providing both of them equal chances. It then rests upon the drivers’ performances and how they manage the drive. So to the above question, Christian Horner has provided insight, and it doesn’t sound so good for the Mexican driver.

As per a video interview by the Auto, Motor und Sport, Horner, placing his bets on Max Verstappen to be the better of the two, said, “I think over a season, the form that has been in his, of course he is the man to beat, he’s the reigning champion. Checo has to strive for that otherwise you know, why is he competing? But I think you know the reality is that the probability is that Max over the season, is likely to be the more likely candidate for the world championship. But Checo should also you know he has the capability to also be right there.”

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Max Verstappen’s form, as vouched for by the boss, is indeed impeccable, as he rushes into 2023 with 15 wins from the last season. On the other hand, Sergio Perez has been fairly inconsistent, despite carrying the same package as his teammate.

Christian Horner on Red Bull’s driver pairing

During the unveiling of the RB19, the team’s challenger for the 2023 season, Christian Horner termed the pairing of Max and Checo as the best in the team’s history. He said, “I think it’s the best pairing we’ve ever had in Formula 1,” to which many, including Martin Brundle, pointed out the pairing of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

But when it comes to the overall grid, Horner’s thoughts appear to be a bit different. While acknowledging the strength of his drivers, he didn’t underestimate the rivals, as quoted by Planet F1, saying, “We have very good drivers, but if you go to Mercedes and Ferrari you see that they also have very strong riders. I think the top teams all have fantastic drivers. It’s about how we operate as a collective.”

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Sergio Perez’s challenge in 2023 will be to build on his improved performances in 2022. It is up to the Mexican to decide how to perform and which commands from the team he will follow. And from what he learned towards the end of the last season, there will be a challenge on Max’s end as well, and it won’t be easy.