Perez Details Cynical Chat with Horner Over Red Bull's Second Driver Curse

Sergio Perez has shared a comical yet telling account of his final conversation with then-Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, revealing he warned the boss that the team's notorious second-driver curse would persist with his successors. The exchange paints a picture of a team aware of its internal issues, with Perez suggesting he became a convenient distraction from larger off-track turmoil during a turbulent 2024 season.

Why it matters:

Perez's account goes beyond typical driver-boss farewell chatter and points to a potentially systemic issue within Red Bull's culture. The narrative that the team's second driver is set up to fail, a fate shared by Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, gains significant credibility. It highlights the immense psychological pressure of the role and suggests the team's leadership may be resigned to this cycle rather than actively trying to fix it.

The details:

• Perez claims he tried to warn Horner that the cycle would repeat with Liam Lawson, who was replaced after just two races.
• Recounting his farewell chat, Perez described the cynical exchange:
  • Perez: "Hey Christian, what are you going to do when it doesn’t work with Liam?"
  • Horner: "Well, there’s Yuki."
  • Perez: "And what happens when that doesn’t work?"
  • Horner: "Well, we have many drivers."
  • Perez: "Well, you’re going to use them all."
  • Horner: "Yeah, I know."
• The Mexican driver felt isolated, stating, "Publicly, it was very difficult... I think only someone so mentally strong can endure something like that."
• Perez believes his underperformance became a "big distraction" from the internal politics and controversy surrounding Horner, noting, "No one talked about anything but me, my performance, how badly I was doing."
• His departure came after a severe slump, scoring just 49 points in the final 18 rounds of the 2024 season.

Between the lines:

The conversation, if true, is a damning indictment of the environment at Red Bull. It suggests the team's hierarchy views the second seat not as a partnership but as a disposable, revolving door. This validates the long-held suspicions of fans and pundits alike that the problem wasn't simply with Albon, Gasly, or Perez, but with the team's structure and its overwhelming focus on Max Verstappen. Horner's alleged acceptance of this fate indicates a deep-seated cultural issue that new leadership may struggle to resolve.