F1: Horner tells Sergio Perez: Stop thinking about the title and drive

June 18, 2023 Times Europe

Formula One F1 – Canadian Grand Prix – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada – June 17, 2023 Red Bull team principal Christian Horner ahead of the final practice session REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger

MONTREAL-Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Sergio Perez on Saturday to forget about fighting for the Formula One championship and focus on his driving.

The Mexican is second in the standings but a mighty 53 points behind teammate and double world champion Max Verstappen after seven of 22 races.

“He needs to stop thinking about the championship and just drive,” Horner told Sky Sports television after Perez was 17th in a wet final practice for the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Verstappen went on to take pole position while Perez qualified 12th — missing out on the top 10 on the grid for the third race in a row.

While Red Bull is dominant and has won every race this season with Verstappen triumphing in five, Perez has failed to make the podium in his last two — no points in Monaco and fourth in Spain.

Formula One F1 – Canadian Grand Prix – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada – June 17, 2023 Red Bull’s Sergio Perez ahead of the final practice session REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger

In Miami in May he was challenging Verstappen for the championship lead with both on two wins apiece.

“He had a great start to the season, he’s had a couple of rougher races and I think he just needs to find that mojo again,” said Horner.

“We know what he’s capable of, we’ve seen it earlier in the year.

“If he just frees his shoulders up a bit it will just come to him more naturally.”

Horner recognized after the Spanish Grand Prix that Verstappen, still only 25 but chasing a 41st career win this weekend that would lift him alongside the late Ayrton Senna in the all-time lists, was a tough teammate.

“I think now there is that separation in the points, that may actually take the pressure off him (Perez) a little and the expectation he’s putting on himself,” the Briton said then.

Perez told reporters in Montreal on Thursday that the pressure remained and he cut a subdued figure after Saturday’s performance.

“Definitely not feeling great,” he said. “Not going through a great moment. But we’ve come back before and tomorrow it’s a new opportunity to hopefully get back into very strong points.”