Red Bull boss Christian Horner hails Sergio Perez's performance in Japan

Amidst anticipation of a widening performance gap between Perez and teammate Max Verstappen at Suzuka, the 34-year-old Mexican driver defied expectations by narrowly missing out on pole position and securing a commendable second place finish during the race.

Horner, speaking to media outlets, expressed admiration for Perez's strong showing throughout the weekend, particularly noting his impressive qualifying performance, which saw him qualify within a tenth of a second of Verstappen.

"The race pace was strong obviously," Horner remarked. "Despite the challenge of navigating through traffic, Perez showcased remarkable skill, executing daring overtakes including those at the high-speed 130R corner."

Reflecting on Perez's contributions to Red Bull's success in the early stages of the season, Horner indicated that the speculation surrounding Perez's future with the team has been quelled to some extent.

"Checo's performance has been instrumental in our three one-two finishes this season," Horner stated. "His confidence is high, and he has seamlessly integrated into the team. With his contract up for renewal next year, the ball is in his court."

Looking ahead to the upcoming F1 Chinese Grand Prix, which marks the fifth race of the 2024 season, Horner expressed optimism for Perez's continued success. 

The Chinese Grand Prix will kick off a series of Sprint weekends, with drivers facing the challenge of adapting to the track in just 60 minutes before the Sprint qualifying session on Friday afternoon. The main race will take place over 56 laps of the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday, April 21st.

As Perez continues to demonstrate his prowess on the track, Horner's praise serves as a testament to the Mexican driver's vital role within the Red Bull Racing team, igniting anticipation for further achievements in the races to come.