Christian Horner admits Crimson Bull want Sergio Perez to regain his greatest kind amid threats to the world champions from Ferrari and McLaren.
Perez endured what his group boss described as a “brutal” weekend on the Monaco Grand Prix after the Mexican driver certified solely sixteenth after struggling visitors issues within the first quarter earlier than struggling an enormous crash within the first lap of the race because of the incident with Kevin Magnussen.
It got here every week after a tough Imola for Perez, the place he certified solely eleventh and completed eighth.
Whereas Charles Leclerc’s victory in Monaco minimize Max Verstappen’s world championship result in 31 factors, Perez dropped to fifth within the Drivers’ Championship behind Ferrari and McLaren’s Land Norris.
Crimson Bull’s hole to Ferrari on the prime of the constructors’ championship has been minimize to 24 factors after eight rounds of the 24-race marketing campaign.
“It has been a reasonably robust weekend for him,” Horner, the Crimson Bull group principal, advised Monaco Perez.
“Clearly we’d like to ensure each automobiles rating factors as a result of we won’t dismiss the specter of Ferrari and McLaren in each championships.
“Cheka was very sturdy within the first six races. He certified on the entrance row, completed second and third and scored very properly.
“We simply must get that confidence again in him and never see him fall.”
For the primary time this season, Sergio Perez failed to succeed in Q3 in consecutive races
Perez’s contract with Crimson Bull remains to be up for renewal on the finish of this yr, and whereas the 34-year-old remains to be thought of extra probably than to not keep for a minimum of one other season, it’s clear that his prospects could be untimely . he’ll embark on a future of disappointing kind.
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Initially of the Monaco Grand Prix, there was a significant crash between Haas’ Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen, which additionally broken the automobile of Nico Hulkenberg.
Requested if Perez’s current efficiency modified something when it comes to deciding on a brand new contract, Horner stated: “No, probably not. I feel it is extra… we’ll decide quickly.”
Sky Sports activities F1 Podcast: Is Crimson Bull in for a title combat?
The rising problem dealing with Crimson Bull’s dominance in F1 – and the influence Leclerc’s victory in Monaco might have on the remainder of the season – was a central matter of dialogue on the newest version Sky Sports activities F1 Podcast.
The final three races – Miami (Norris, McLaren), Imola (Verstappen, Crimson Bull) and Monaco (Leclerc, Ferrari) – have been received by three completely different groups, the primary such sequence in F1 since September 2021.
Crimson Bull had beforehand received 26 of the earlier 28 races.
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Highlights of the Monaco Grand Prix.
And former F1 racing strategist Bernie Collins advised the podcast: “Eight races in, it is a a lot harder combat than we’ve got.
“Crimson Bull did lose to Monaco within the final two races as properly [before that] McLaren was proper there with them, with McLaren profitable one and Crimson Bull profitable one.
“It will likely be a a lot harder combat. Crimson Bull do not appear that assured going ahead and it’s extremely attention-grabbing for us watching at dwelling.
“A part of that package deal is the truth that Ferrari have two guys who frequently go very shut to one another and frequently rating good factors.
“That type of factor will preserve them going for the remainder of the yr and that is the place Crimson Bull actually must begin to have a little bit of a doubt as a result of the automobile remains to be the quickest automobile on most tracks, though not round Monaco I would respect, however the majority of the yr forward.
“If McLaren and Ferrari proceed to enhance, Crimson Bull will likely be in bother.”
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Strategic analyst Bernie Collins describes the worth Ferrari group principal Fred Wasser has delivered to the group.
Crimson Bull had received F1’s three earlier visits to Monaco, however this yr’s RB20 struggled with the bumps and curbs of the well-known avenue circuit.
The RB20 was additionally unconvincing at Miami and Imola, and Collins says there have been “little indicators” of late that Crimson Bull are “not as comfy as they had been” with a automobile that has received 4 of the primary 5 races of the season and is threatening once more run away from each championships.
“The large concern for Crimson Bull is that they began the yr with this idea automobile, which may be very completely different to what we have seen earlier than, and we had been all a bit stunned that they modified the automobile in any manner, given how sturdy it was. “, she added.
“Now we’re beginning to hear little issues like ‘oops, we did not get the correlation fairly proper’ or ‘we’re not getting updates that work as anticipated.’ All these little issues with a automobile with a distinct idea should not assured.’
System 1 leaves Europe for the final time earlier than the summer time break when the championship strikes to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. Watch each session on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit from June 7-9 reside on Sky Sports activities F1, with Sunday’s race at 7pm. Stream each F1 race and extra with NOW Sports activities Month membership – no contract, cancel anytime