Christian Horner has highlighted a key attribute that sets Sergio Perez apart from Max Verstappen’s previous teammates and which has kept him alongside the Dutchman longer than his predecessors.
Perez had a challenging 2023 season filled with ups and downs, making it difficult for him to keep up with Verstappen.
While they had a close competition in the beginning, Perez struggled to match Verstappen’s pace and spent most of the year in a slump.
However, despite his struggles, Perez managed to survive and continue racing.
According to Horner, Perez’s mental strength played a crucial role in his resilience as Verstappen’s teammate.
Other drivers like Ricciardo, Gasly, and Albon couldn’t handle the pressure, but Perez showed great character in dealing with it. Horner believes that Perez’s mental fortitude is what sets him apart and allows him to stay at Red Bull.
However, Perez’s weakness lies in his qualifying performance, which often put him at a disadvantage on race days.
Horner suggests that improving his qualifying would be Perez’s main focus moving forward.
“I think if he can do that, his race pace is always strong, he races very well.
“We need him qualifying nearer the front, nearer to Max, putting more pressure on.
“We can’t afford him to go missing at certain points of the championship and have that consistency.
“He finished second this year, third last year, fourth the year before, so he’s on the right trajectory!”