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Red Bull Racing

Horner throws support behind struggling Perez

The Mexican has slipped to 99 points behind teammate Max Verstappen in the title race.

Perez Silverstone
Article
To news overview © Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has insisted Sergio Perez continues to receive full support from the F1 Constructors' championship-leading outfit amid ongoing qualifying struggles.

The Mexican has failed to reach Q3 since taking pole position for the Miami Grand Prix, with a mixture of misfortune, incidents and set-up drama leaving him struggling to impart himself on Saturdays.

His issues in qualifying have left mountains to climb in the Grands Prix, with Perez slipping back to 99 points behind teammate Max Verstappen in the Drivers' standings having been tipped to take the title battle to the Dutchman in the early stages of the year.

On Perez's poor qualifying form, Horner told media, including RacingNews365: "He just needs to break it now, he will do it in Budapest.

"The way he races, some of his moves [at Silverstone], particularly the one on Carlos Sainz was quite stunning.

"His pace in the last stint, he was right there. It is frustrating for him that he is having to fight back all the time, but he has just got to sort his qualifying out on Saturdays.

"As a team, we'll do our best to support him."

One of those things

Pressure will be ramped up on Perez's shoulders with the return of Daniel Ricciardo in place of Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri as the Australian searches for a way back to a race-winning team.

On whether concerns around Perez's form are beginning to creep in, Horner explained: "It's just one of those things, as in all sport, it is 90 per cent in the head.

"He just needs a good run and he will find his momentum again. At the moment he is still running second in the championship.

"We have got a good car, but we need to make sure we have got both cars in contention."

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