Kravitz philosophises on Red Bull return: 'Horner quick to praise Albon'

Sergio Perez is still with Red Bull Racing until 2024, but it is not a certainty that the Mexican will actually serve out that time. Red Bull will want to see more from the 33-year-old routine driver, otherwise there is a chance they will look around for a potential replacement. Ted Kravitz finds it remarkable that Christian Horner was particularly praising Alexander Albon in Canada.

Albon finished handsomely seventh in the Williams. The British Thai impressed by keeping chasers behind through smart driving. He therefore received compliments from his former team boss. Indeed, between 2019 and 2020, Albon drove at Red Bull.

In 2021, however, there was no place for him at Red Bull or sister team AlphaTauri and, after sitting on the sidelines for a year, Albon opted for an adventure at Williams. There he signed a multi-year contract. All ties with Red Bull were severed and so, according to Kravitz, Horner's words of praise are striking.

Kravitz on Horner's words

In Sky Sports' podcast, the pit reporter was asked if Perez deserves to stay with the Milton Keynes-based formation. "Yes. Although Christian Horner was quick to praise Alex Albon wasn't he. I thought that was interesting. Alex Albon has now severed all of his ties with Red Bull, he doesn't even have it on the side of his helmet anymore." Albon does still have links with the Yoovidhya family, which owns 51 per cent of Red Bull. "But Alex is not in the Red Bull camp anymore."

Albon finished well behind Perez (especially considering that Verstappen's teammate also made an extra pit stop to set the fastest lap), but the fact remains that he finished just one place behind the Red Bull driver. "That wasn't lost on anybody including Horner," Kravitz said.

Perez has contract, but...

Contracts between driver and team always include certain performance-related clauses that can be activated if either party underperforms. There can then be an early departure from each other. It is far from that yet, but it is certain that Perez will have to step up a gear. In the past three Grands Prix, he missed Q3 each time and also failed to finish on the podium, while teammate Verstappen won all of those races.