Oct.27 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s main backer has leapt to the Mexican’s protection amid persevering with and worsening rumours he will likely be ousted on the finish of the 12 months.
Strategies Perez would use his dwelling grand prix this weekend to announce his retirement from Components 1 have been broad of the mark.
Certainly, even Purple Bull workforce boss Christian Horner needed to marvel at Perez’s native and business attraction.
“I feel he’s endorsing each product from Uber Eats to bathroom roll this weekend,” he laughed. “It’s spectacular what number of endorsements he’s managed to line up for himself.”
Perez additionally traces up hundreds of thousands in backing for Purple Bull – believed to be price upwards of $30m a 12 months to the workforce. A lot of that comes from sponsors linked to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim’s business empire.
Slim mentioned on Saturday: “I feel Checo has made it clear, and I don’t perceive why there are such a lot of doubts. He has a contract, he has made that clear. Christian has made that clear.”
Horner additionally made clear, nevertheless, that he absolutely agrees with Perez that the 34-year-old’s 2024 season as been “horrible”.
“I feel he summed it up completely. It’s been a nasty 12 months for Checo,” he mentioned.
“However, look, Checo’s our driver. He’s contracted for 2025. He’s aggressive. He’s hungry. He’s not pleased with the place he presently is. In order a workforce, we’re doing our easiest to assist him.”
Nonetheless, there are indicators of clear frustration not solely on Purple Bull’s facet, but in addition now being repeatedly expressed by Perez himself.
After Austin, Max Verstappen’s teammate prompt he had not benefitted from the newest full improve package deal. And now, in Mexico, he’s once more pointing the finger at his explicit automotive.
“I’ve the identical drawback as in Austin,” he mentioned. “I simply can’t decelerate the automotive. That’s one thing we as a workforce have to remain on prime of. I haven’t been capable of cease the automotive for 3 races, really.
“If we will’t make certain the automotive stops on the proper time, it’s not going to get higher. It’s very disappointing as a result of as a driver there are particular limitations, however that is simply an excessive amount of,” Perez added.
As for Yuki Tsunoda’s candidacy, Marko was unimpressed with Tsunoda’s qualifying effort on Saturday, insisting: “That was an pointless crash.”
As for the Abu Dhabi take a look at, Marko added: “This will likely be Yuki’s first time testing a Purple Bull automotive, so we’ll see the way it goes.”
RB workforce boss Laurent Mekies commented: “Yuki’s contract isn’t just with RB, it’s with Purple Bull. And my job is to develop RB drivers to have the ability to race in prime groups.
“We’re very joyful that he’s testing the Purple Bull.”
