MEXICO CITY (AP) — Sergio Perez climbed into his car for the Mexico City Grand Prix as nearly 155,000 fans at his home race shouted “Checo! Checo! Checo!" in adoration of the wildly popular Formula 1 driver. It was a critical race for the slumping Perez — he said repeatedly all weekend it is his favorite event of the year — and he knows his job is in danger because of his lack of performance. Alas, Perez could not deliver for his hopeful fans or for Red Bull Racing.
After a 17th-place finish Sunday, team principal Christian Horner would not guarantee Perez will finish the season. Horner had been emphatic two days earlier that the contract extension Perez signed earlier this year was valid for 2025. But he has performance clauses in his existing contract, and when The Associated Press asked Horner directly if Perez would finish this season, Horner refused to endorse the driver for the final four races.
“There comes a point in time that difficult decisions have to be made,” Horner said. “We’re now third in the constructors championship.” Horner did say Perez would be in the car next weekend in Brazil.
Horner admitted the Mexican “had a horrible weekend” that started when he was eliminated in the first round of Saturday qualifying, relegating him to an 18th-place starting position. Perez was then outside his box at the start and received a five-second penalty. He later got into a wheel-to-wheel battle with Liam Lawson of Red Bull sister team RB, and the con.