Horner issues latest Perez plea during F1 clash

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has called on Sergio Perez to improve his form amid the squad's tense F1 title fight.

The Milton Keynes-based squad has been second in the standings since last month's Azerbaijan Grand Prix with McLaren taking over at the helm of the table.

Last time out in the USA, it was Ferrari who prevailed with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz ending the grand prix in first and second respectively.

The Italian squad now sits just eight points behind Red Bull in the standings, leaving Horner to assert it needs Perez to pull his weight in the battle.

“Ferrari, congratulations to them,” he told media including RacingNews365. “They’ve been very, very strong, and they've got two drivers that are competing at the front.

“McLaren, likewise, their drivers, there's not a big deficit between them.

“That’s where we really need for the constructors to have Checo come into play.”

Horner hopeful for Mexico boost

Perez endured a difficult round in the USA, qualifying in ninth place before crossing the line in seventh, one minute down on race winner Leclerc.

However, next up on the calendar is Perez's home race in Mexico where he has always received strong support.

Horner is hopeful the local support will offer Perez the boost he needs to bring home a strong result for Red Bull amid its constructors' championship fight.

“Hopefully, with the support he’ll receive in Mexico, it will give him that boost,” Horner said.

“Obviously, when you qualify out of position, you lose so much time coming through tail-end cars in the top 10 that you’ve then lost contact with the rest of the race.”