Horner issues Perez instruction as Red Bull faces renewed threat

Christian Horner has urged Sergio Perez to recapture the form he showed at the start of the season as Red Bull comes under threat from McLaren and Ferrari.

The Mexican, who is in contract talks with the team over fresh terms for his deal which expires this year, is considered likely to stay at the team, but Horner and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko have sounded warnings that they would need Perez to be closer to Max Verstappen in case of a renewed threat from behind. 

Perez started the season strongly, but over the Imola and Monaco races, he finished eighth and posted a DNF as both McLaren and Ferrari took a huge bite out of Red Bull's advantage. 

It is something Horner is concerned about.

"The weekend was pretty brutal for him," he told media including RacingNews365.

"We obviously need to make sure that we get both cars up there scoring points.

"Because we cannot dismiss the threat of Ferrari and McLaren in both championships - we will make a decision in the fullness of time.

Across the first six races of the season, Perez finished second to Verstappen four times, with a fifth in Australia and fourth in Miami his other results. 

Since Miami, he has fallen to fifth in the Drivers' on 107 points as Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz have all passed him, with Red Bull's Constructors' tally also reduced with just eight points scored in Monaco compared to 40 for Ferrari and 27 for McLaren. 

Horner is keen to see a return for Perez's early season form.

"Look at Checo's first six races, he was very strong, qualifying on the front-row and finishing second and third and scoring points very well," he said.

"We just need to get back to that and the position of confidence and not see these dips."