During the British Grand Prix, Christian Horner’s head shake, captured on camera, set the Formula 1 community abuzz. However, the Red Bull team principal has clarified the gesture was more about the team’s collective performance than any specific frustration with Sergio Perez.
The incident occurred when Sergio Perez, driving for Red Bull, lost control of his car during the British Grand Prix’s qualifying session at Copse corner under slippery conditions, resulting in his car getting stuck in the gravel. This mishap not only eliminated Perez from Q1 but also forced the team to break parc fermé regulations to install a new power unit, relegating him to start the race from the pit lane. Despite the setback, Perez could only manage a 17th place finish, marking his seventh race without a podium since the Chinese Grand Prix in April.
Amidst his struggles, speculation about Perez’s future with Red Bull has been rife, with whispers about a potential mid-season replacement by Daniel Ricciardo. Still, Horner’s head shake was a sign of his frustration with the team’s overall performance rather than a specific indictment of Perez.
In a conversation with the media at Silverstone, Horner expressed his displeasure over both cars’ qualifying performances. He mentioned the absence of Isack Hadjar’s participation in P1 and noted that Perez had a decent P2 session. Horner felt Perez should have secured a spot within the top six positions in Q1, thus highlighting his disappointment when Perez couldn’t make it past the first qualifying session.
Despite the struggles, Red Bull fortified their lead in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, though their competition, McLaren, narrowed the gap by seven points with solid performances from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Horner stressed the importance of having both cars scoring to clinch the Constructors’ title, something they remain very vigilant about.
Horner has not yet decided on how to motivate Perez, acknowledging that different drivers require varied motivational tactics. Whether it be a supportive approach or a more direct one, it is clear that Red Bull is considering all options to ensure optimal performance from Perez moving forward.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, maintained a reserved stance after the Grand Prix, succinctly stating that the weekend was not particularly successful. Perez, who trails his teammate Max Verstappen by 137 points, now faces further challenges ahead. There is a reported contract clause that could see him replaced if the performance gap remains by the time of the Belgian Grand Prix.
As Christian Horner clarified his well-publicized head shake, it reflects a deep-seated desire for Red Bull to excel collectively, rather than a focus on individual performances. Red Bull remains committed to getting the best out of their drivers, underlining that team success hinges on both individual and collective excellence. As the season progresses, only time will tell how this strategy unfolds.
