Sergio Pérez has disclosed a revealing conversation with Christian Horner that took place as the Mexican departed Red Bull Racing. The team principal candidly admitted he expected the outfit would cycle through its entire junior driver roster in the quest to find a suitable partner for Max Verstappen. With Liam Lawson now occupying the seat alongside the four-time world champion, Pérez’s revelation offers insight into the internal challenges Red Bull has faced in filling what many consider Formula 1’s most difficult cockpit.
The candid farewell exchange between Pérez and Horner
During an appearance on the Cracks podcast, Pérez recounted his final conversation with the Red Bull team principal. The discussion centred on the future direction of the driver lineup, specifically who would attempt to match Verstappen’s relentless pace. According to the Mexican, Horner displayed little optimism about finding a long-term solution among the available options.
“When I said goodbye to Christian, I asked him: ‘Listen Christian, what are you going to do if it doesn’t work out with Liam?'” Pérez explained. “He said: ‘Well, we still have Yuki.'” Before the departing driver could even complete his next question about contingency plans, Horner interjected with a matter-of-fact assessment of the situation.
The Red Bull boss acknowledged the team possessed a deep pool of contracted talent but implicitly conceded that none represented a guaranteed solution. When Pérez suggested the team would ultimately cycle through all available drivers, Horner’s response was telling: “Yes, I know.”
This exchange reveals the internal awareness at Milton Keynes that pairing anyone with Verstappen presents extraordinary difficulties. The reigning world champion’s consistent performance level has proven a benchmark that teammates struggle to approach, let alone match.
Pérez’s decade-long journey to Red Bull and subsequent struggles
The Mexican driver spent ten seasons navigating the midfield before earning his opportunity with Red Bull Racing. His path took him through Sauber and Force India, the latter rebranded as Racing Point. Despite operating with inferior machinery, Pérez established himself as one of the grid’s most dependable performers, catching Red Bull’s attention with his racecraft and consistency.
His breakthrough victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020, achieved with Racing Point, sealed the deal. Red Bull offered him the seat vacated by Alex Albon for the 2021 season. What followed were genuine highlights, including five Grand Prix victories and the vice-championship in 2023. His defensive masterclass in Abu Dhabi during the controversial 2021 title decider earned him the moniker “Mexican Minister of Defence” among fans and earned Verstappen’s public gratitude.
However, the partnership soured dramatically during 2024. Pérez’s form collapsed midseason, his qualifying performances particularly affected. The gap to Verstappen grew insurmountable, and his inability to support the team’s constructors’ championship ambitions became untenable. Red Bull terminated his contract in December 2024, ending a partnership that had delivered moments of brilliance but ultimately failed to provide the consistency the team required.
The revolving door policy and its consequences
Horner’s admission to Pérez underscores a problematic pattern. Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018, Red Bull has struggled to maintain stability in the second seat. Pierre Gasly, Albon, and Pérez all failed to consistently deliver the performances required. The team subsequently promoted Lawson from its junior squad, but the New Zealander has yet to demonstrate he can regularly challenge for podiums.
The situation mirrors Red Bull’s approach at its sister team, now known as RB. Yuki Tsunoda has spent multiple seasons with the junior outfit without earning promotion to the senior squad. Despite flashes of speed, the Japanese driver has never finished on the podium, casting doubt on whether he represents a viable option alongside Verstappen’s 2025 title defence campaign.
Isack Hadjar now occupies the RB seat alongside Tsunoda, representing the latest prospect in Red Bull’s driver development programme. The pressure on the French rookie is immense, knowing that strong performances might earn him a shot at the senior team, while failure could see him discarded as previous juniors have been.
What this means for Red Bull’s 2025 campaign
The revolving door approach carries significant implications for Red Bull’s competitive position. While Verstappen remains capable of challenging for individual honours, the team’s constructors’ championship ambitions depend heavily on consistent point-scoring from both cars. Ferrari has strengthened considerably with Lewis Hamilton‘s arrival alongside Charles Leclerc, while McLaren fields two proven race winners in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Pérez has since joined the Cadillac project as it prepares for its 2026 Formula 1 entry. His experience and racecraft will prove valuable as the American manufacturer develops its infrastructure and establishes itself on the grid. For Red Bull Racing’s immediate future, however, the search for a stable second driver continues, with Horner’s own words suggesting the team expects further changes before finding a lasting solution to partner their dominant four-time world champion.
