Horner: Brave Perez delivers Red Bull 'statement'

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has labelled Sergio Perez's podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix as a "statement" performance.

The Mexican started ninth in Budapest having broken his five-race Q3 curse, recovering from a crash in first practice with the return of Daniel Ricciardo raising questions about his long-term future at Red Bull.

But Perez put in a strong performance to recover to third place, passing the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri on track for his second podium in seven races, with the drive earning support from Horner.

Horner on Perez drive

"He drove a great race, the recovery, the overtaking was brave and his pace was fast," Horner told Sky Sports F1.

"The way he made the places, passing Carlos [Sainz], passing Lando [Norris] and [Oscar] Piastri with the strategy he had, he was on fire today.

"A race like that gives you a huge amount of confidence and I think the overtaking, the bravery that he showed, for me, that was really a statement drive to say: 'Look, don't write me off.'

"I think this will give him a lot of confidence."