Horner: 'If Perez keeps this up, contract extension is no-brainer'

Sergio Perez took some time last season to get used to a completely new environment, but in 2022 the Mexican seems to be loosening up. The 32-year-old driver is doing what is expected of him and that makes his employer Red Bull Racing happy. Christian Horner seems to be hinting at a contract extension.

Perez's contract expires after this season, but in the first four Grands Prix he already seems to have convinced Red Bull that he is a very suitable option for 2023. The difference in with teammate Max Verstappen is quite a bit less than last year and so Horner can only mention positive things in conversation with The Athletic.

"He's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him on the team. If we had to make a decision today, of course, we would want to extend. As long as he keeps doing what he's doing, it will be a no-brainer," believes the Red Bull Racing team principle. Helmut Marko previously announced that in the summer break a decision will be made on who will drive next to Verstappen next season.

Gasly the big rival of Perez

For Perez it is therefore important to perform at the top of his game for nine more Grand Prix. Pierre Gasly will meanwhile hope that Perez's form lessens, because otherwise a switch to Red Bull will be off the table. 

The AlphaTauri driver still has a contract within the Red Bull family until 2023, but the Frenchman has already indicated several times that he is ready for a step up. A departure to another racing stable is therefore not excluded if Perez is chosen by Marko and Horner. The condition is that a spot becomes available at other teams and that is not a given considering the contract situations of most of the drivers in Formula 1.