Crimson Bull already has Max Verstappen below contract for 2025, whereas Perez has impressed within the opening a part of the 2024 season to make sure he’s prone to retain his seat on the group.
Perez acknowledged on Thursday that, given the dynamic nature of the 2025 driver market, he anticipated “to know my future within the coming weeks, as a result of every part is shifting fairly quick. So I feel it is essential to not look ahead to too lengthy.”
In response to a query asking if Crimson Bull was near firming up its plans for subsequent season, group principal Horner replied within the adverse.
“Not very [close], I am afraid,” he stated. “It is unimaginable that we’re at race 5 and there is a lot discuss already about drivers for subsequent yr.
“We’re in a scenario the place we’re very pleased with our two drivers.
“However we need not make a last choice in regards to the line-up till a lot later within the yr.
“Clearly Max is on a long-term contract anyway, Checo out of contract this yr, however he is been driving exceptionally nicely to date this season.”
Horner understood Perez’s want for a swift decision to contract talks for 2025, significantly because the Mexican endured a lot of 2023 below stress by means of a string of poor performances in the course of the center interval of the season.
Nevertheless, Horner defined that he wished to find out whether or not Perez was in a position to keep his kind earlier than the 2 events may begin to put pen to paper.
“After all, he wish to make an announcement tomorrow, undoubtedly, after we as a group aren’t in a selected rush,” stated Horner.
“We’re in a lucky place the place many drivers would clearly wish to drive for the group, however we’re pleased with the pairing that we have now.
“We simply need to guarantee that the extent of consistency that Checo began with this season maintains. And sooner or later, we’ll consider these choices.
“However, at this time limit, we’re very pleased with the line-up that we have now.”
Referring to the prospect of RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, who had been earmarked as a attainable Perez substitute ought to the Australian regather his momentum in F1, Horner famous there was nonetheless time to show issues round.
Yuki Tsunoda, Visa Money App RB F1 Crew, Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Money App RB F1 Crew
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
He additionally remarked that reserve driver Liam Lawson, who impressed whereas masking for an injured Ricciardo final season, was “champing on the bit” to get a race seat – however that precedence was with the present race drivers.
“I feel that it’s totally a lot in Daniel’s fingers. He wants to point out the sort of head-turning kind to make not solely ourselves, however doubtlessly others, take discover,” Horner added.
“We’re solely at race 5. This can be a observe that is gone nicely for him beforehand, he is bought a dash race as nicely, so it will be fascinating to see if he can actually kick his season off right here.
“Liam Lawson is champing on the bit to get a chance, however there’s nothing preordained as to when, and even when, that will happen.
“The precedence is for certain for the drivers which are within the race seats in the mean time and we’ll see how that pans out.”
