Sergio Perez Says He Warned Christian Horner About Red Bull’s Collapse
Former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has claimed that he cautioned team principal Christian Horner about the long-term consequences of the team’s driver management strategy before being dropped at the end of the 2024 Formula One season.
Perez was removed from his role as Max Verstappen’s team-mate after four seasons with the Milton Keynes outfit, bringing an end to a partnership that delivered multiple race victories and a constructors’ championship. His seat was handed to Liam Lawson, a driver with limited Formula One experience, a decision that Perez says raised serious concerns internally.
The Mexican driver, who joined Red Bull in 2021, was replaced despite helping the team dominate much of the ground-effect era. Lawson, meanwhile, had spent time filling in at Red Bull’s junior outfit for Daniel Ricciardo before earning a full-time promotion midway through 2024. However, Perez believes the move was rushed and symptomatic of deeper issues within the team.
Speaking on the Cracks Podcast with Oso Trava, Perez revealed details of a conversation he had with Horner during his exit discussions. According to Perez, he openly questioned Red Bull’s lack of long-term planning when it came to developing and retaining drivers.
“When I said goodbye to Christian, I asked him, ‘What are you going to do if it doesn’t work out with Liam?’” Perez recalled. “He said, ‘Well, there’s Yuki.’ I replied, ‘And what happens after that?’ I told him, ‘You don’t have many drivers left—you’re going to use them all.’”
Perez added that Horner acknowledged the concern at the time, replying simply: “Yes, I know.”
The comments have gained traction on social media as Red Bull’s once-stable structure has unravelled over the past year. Lawson’s promotion quickly backfired, with the New Zealander lasting just two races in the senior team before being demoted back to Racing Bulls. While he has managed to retain a seat for the 2026 season, the episode reinforced questions about whether he was ready for the pressure of a top team.
Yuki Tsunoda, long viewed as the next option within Red Bull’s driver pool, also failed to secure a permanent future. After struggling to make an impact when opportunities arose, the Japanese driver was pushed into a reserve role, leaving Red Bull with limited experienced alternatives—exactly the scenario Perez claims he warned about.
Ironically, despite losing his Red Bull drive, Perez appears to have emerged from the situation in a stronger position than many expected. The 35-year-old spent the 2025 season away from Formula One, taking time to focus on family and reassess his future in the sport. Rather than forcing a short-term return, Perez opted for patience.
That decision has paid off. Perez is set to make a full-time comeback in 2026 with Cadillac, one of the new entrants preparing for Formula One’s regulation overhaul. His experience, race-winning pedigree, and reputation for consistency have made him an attractive option as teams seek stability during a major technical reset.
In contrast, Red Bull has undergone dramatic leadership changes. Horner, who led the team for two decades and oversaw multiple championship eras, was dismissed from his role as team principal. Reports suggest the Brit is now exploring a potential return to the paddock with Alpine, though nothing has been confirmed.
The fallout has also reshaped perceptions of Perez’s tenure at Red Bull. While his performances were often compared unfavourably to Verstappen’s, subsequent struggles by Lawson and Tsunoda have highlighted how difficult the second Red Bull seat truly is. Neither driver came close to matching Perez’s points output or consistency, raising questions about whether his contribution was undervalued.
As Formula One heads toward a new era in 2026, Perez’s warning appears increasingly prophetic. Red Bull’s aggressive approach to driver rotation may have delivered short-term flexibility, but it also left the team exposed when results failed to follow.
With Perez returning to the grid and Red Bull rebuilding both its driver line-up and leadership structure, the story serves as a reminder that experience and stability can be just as valuable as raw potential in modern Formula One.
