Christian Horner told the High Performance podcast that Red Bull will race with a second car only because they have to; a single‑car focus would have been enough to chase the championship.
Horner’s candid admission on the plane to Milton Keynes
When Sergio Perez first stepped into Red Bull’s garage in 2021, the team principal explained that Max Verstappen would be the sole focus. “We run two cars because we have to,” Horner said, adding that they would prefer a single‑car endeavor to chase another title.
Perez’s rise amid a Verstappen‑centric environment
Despite a system built around the four‑time champion, Perez seized every resource available to him, according to the Mexican driver. He added that he “overdelivered” across all facets during his four years, from racecraft to engineering input, drawing praise from Horner and advisor Helmut Marko. The team praised his race victories even though they did not dominate the Constructors’ standings.
Internal pressure and the team’s evolving dynamics
Perez highlighted that the crew’s morale dipped in later seasons as success bred restlessness. “We had too much success, so people got bored and started fighting,” he said, describing the drama that emerged despite four fruitful seasons. The widening gap between him and Verstappen widened whenever new technical upgrades were introduced.
Career shift and future reflections
Having departed Red Bull at the close of 2024, Perez took a year’s break before joining Cadillac for 2026. He kept the line that Red Bull changed his career, while acknowledging the friendship he maintained with factions across the paddock, from Aston Martin to Racing Point. When asked whether a continued stint could have seen a 2025 Constructors’ title, he answered, “you never know,” while stressing the business nature of the sport.
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