Sergio Perez reveals comical details of 'farewell' talk with axed Red Bull boss Christian Horner

Sergio Perez has recounted the final conversation he had with Christian Horner before leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2024 F1 season.

The Cadillac F1 driver left the Milton Keynes-based squad after four seasons together due to prolonged underperformance, but knew those following him would not be able to break the team's second driver curse.

Whilst Perez enjoyed a strong start to life at the six-time F1 constructors' champions, perhaps in part due to Helmut Marko paying for a psychologist, he soon succumbed to the same fate as Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon.

As the 35-year-old's performances began to suffer, his position within the team became plainly untenable and management pushing for a change was ultimately inevitable, particularly after he scored just 49 points over the final 18 rounds of the 2024 campaign.

Reflecting on having the "whole team against" him, Perez highlighted how resilient the driver in the second Red Bull seat must be.

"Publicly, it was very difficult," the Mexican driver told the Cracks podcast. "I think only someone so mentally strong can endure something like that."

According to the six-time grand prix winner, he tried to warn Horner that the cycle would not be broken with the signing of Liam Lawson, who lasted only two rounds next to Max Verstappen.

However, the former team principal, who was fired in July last year after two decades in charge, was unperturbed, acknowledging the situation himself.

Recalling the conversation with Horner, Perez added: "And I remember when it was the last... In my farewell with Christian, I said: 'Hey Christian, what are you going to do when it doesn’t work with Liam? [Horner replied:] 'Well, there’s Yuki.'

"'And what happens when that doesn’t work?'," he continued before relaying how the Briton responded: 'Well, we have many drivers.'

"I say, 'Well, you’re going to use them all.' He says, 'Yeah, I know'."

2024 was a particularly turbulent year for Red Bull off track. Now-dismissed allegations surrounding Horner bled into the season, as infighting and internal politics ran rampant throughout the team.

As performances began to suffer on track, Perez felt like he became a welcome distraction to the dysfunction and controversy engulfing Red Bull.

"So we knew, but there was also so much pressure that year," the former Sauber, McLaren and Force India/Racing Point driver said.

"Christian had some issues, so it was also a bit that I was the distraction — I was the big distraction. No one talked about anything but me, my performance, how badly I was doing."