Horner responds to ‘brutally hard question’ over Perez

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner responded to a "brutally hard question" regarding Sergio Perez, as he was questioned over whether the Mexican was offered a new contract too early. 

Horner made an appearance on Sky Sports F1 following first practice ahead of the British Grand Prix.

Perez's form was put to Horner as the Red Bull driver has scored just 11 points across the last four races, and has been unable to support Max Verstappen against the rapidly improving McLaren. 

It marks a similar story to last year, when Perez started the campaign strongly before suffering a mid-season blip. 

Horner accepts Perez is not performing up to standard and moved to defend the Mexican's work ethic in a bid to rid himself of his issues.

"Obviously, Sergio has had a tough spell," Horner told Sky Sports F1. "His first five races were very competitive. 

"The last five have been nowhere, and we want to see the Sergio from the first five back. He knows that, he's aware of that, he's been working hard in the sim this week, working hard to understand where it's just not playing out for him.

"But what we've constantly seen with him is this resilience to be able to bounce back. We're hoping to see that very soon."

Horner addresses contract 'regret'

Despite Perez's current form, he was offered a new contract recently by Red Bull in the form of a 1+1 deal. This keeps him at the Milton Keynes-based team next season, with an option to extend for a further year. 

Several have questioned why Red Bull offered Perez the deal so early in the season and during a difficult run of results.

Brundle openly asked Horner if Red Bull made a mistake extending the Mexican driver's deal early, to which the team boss replied: "That's a brutally hard question, Martin.

"But, of course, the point that you sign a driver, the contents of any agreement are not going to be disclosed to all of you lot. 

"So it made absolute sense to sign Checo at that point in time. But this is a business in which there are pressures to deliver."

Horner revealed that Red Bull hoped the new contract would spark Perez's front-running form.

"We thought the contract would help," added the Red Bull boss. "I think it's something that Checo is working very hard on, and he knows this is a sport where there's no hiding. 

"Particularly with Max Verstappen as your team-mate. He knows he's being measured against the very best, and we need him up there supporting Max, because there's two McLarens now, there's two Ferraris, there's two Mercedes and we need there to be desperately two Red Bulls.”