“Only He Can Lose It”: Christian Horner Gives an Update on Sergio Perez’s Seat Only Weeks After Fanboying Over Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz is the most eligible driver in the market. Many, including Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, are of this opinion. Carlos stunned the paddock for the second time when he defeated the ever-so-dominant Red Bull at the Australian GP and the RB scouts were no stranger to this feeling. As Sergio Perez‘s contract gets over at the end of this year, many are being linked to that second seat of Red Bull, including Sainz. But can Sergio Perez get his contract renewed?

In 2020, Sergio Perez was out of his Racing Point seat because the team signed 4x champion Sebastian Vettel next to Lance Stroll. The funny bit is that Perez got a chance of his lifetime at the same place where Vettel won his 4 championships. Cut to 2024, the Mexican driver is in the last year of his once-renewed contract. But will RB renew his contract again, or will the team, spoiled for choices, take on someone else?

Understanding the situation at hand, Christian Horner has given an update about the whole scenario. He said, “Perez started the season well – declared the number one on the Red Bull pit wall – and his contract will expire at the end of the year. Clearly, we observe the market and consider all the options, but the seat belongs to Checo and only he can lose it. We are at an early stage of the season and it is great to receive so much interest from so many riders. We are in a luxury position”

READ MORE: Liam Lawson “Promised” an F1 Seat for 2025 9 Days After Fawning on ‘Nice Guy’ Max Verstappen

While Horner has explained the team’s stance, what do others think?

Carlos Sainz or Sergio Perez, F1 Pundit gets to the root of Red Bull’s dilemma

Sainz has been the most successful non-Red Bull driver in the past year and a half. He became the only one to put an end to Max Verstappen’s unbeatable streak and that too twice. Why wouldn’t the recruiters of the fastest team be interested in him? Ted Kravitz answers that for us as he explains Red Bull’s dilemma.

Sky Sport’s F1 Pundit, Ted Kravitz talking on Ted’s Podbook, Springtime in Suzuka said, “Checo saying he wants to get negotiations for 2025 started now, and he wants to sit down…hammer out a deal for next year. At the same time, Christian Horner ended the Australian GP [by] telling anyone who would listen how great Carlos Sainz was. So when you got one side of management saying he quite fancies Carlos Sainz for the second seat alongside Max Verstappen that if Max Verstappen is going to stay indeed… But then you have got Helmut Marko, we don’t know how he feels about Sainz. does he feel that when he left the Red Bull driving stables a while ago, wasn’t quite on [the] best terms, and doesn’t really fancy having him back? We don’t know.”

READ MORE: “I Was Asked Not to Fight”: Unhappy Charles Leclerc Reveals Fred Vasseur Favored Carlos Sainz at Australia

Who do you think will drive next to Max Verstappen next year?