Sergio Perez emerged victorious in an exciting bet against Christian Horner, delivering an impressive performance in Suzuka. The Red Bull team had a remarkable weekend, bouncing back from a disastrous Australian GP with a front-row start and a second-place finish in the race. During qualifying in Japan, Perez and the Team Principal made a bet, which the Mexican driver ended up winning. Horner later revealed an intriguing detail about the whole episode.
The bet revolved around Perez’s performance in qualifying, with both individuals betting on his ability to secure a front-row start for the main race of the Japanese GP. The 34-year-old driver’s exceptional display allowed him to win the bet. Horner even mentioned the situation over the team radio, expressing his disappointment at losing money to Perez after the race.
After the race concluded, Horner reflected on the bet. The 50-year-old driver stated that Perez owed the same amount of money to former F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone, presumably due to a previous incident. Despite no longer being involved in the sport, Ecclestone still managed to profit from the bet.
Sergio Perez’s performance in the 2024 season has been consistently strong. However, a late-season slump similar to his disappointing 2023 campaign could once again jeopardize his future in Milton Keynes. The 34-year-old driver must remain vigilant and maintain a high level of performance to secure his spot beyond 2024. Horner expressed confidence in Perez, stating that he was currently comfortable in the team and performing well.
Furthermore, Horner hinted about Perez’s contract with Milton Keynes, which is set to expire at the end of the year. With the Mexican driver fully aware of his situation, Horner noted that Perez’s position was not guaranteed. However, the Red Bull team boss acknowledged that Perez had started the season exceptionally well. Previously, Horner had mentioned that there were at least 16 drivers vying for the chance to race for Milton Keynes.
Therefore, Sergio Perez must continue to perform at a high level and meet the team’s expectations throughout the season. Red Bull has provided both drivers ample opportunities to secure victories in the 2024 season. Perez must maximize the potential of the dominant RB20 car and secure his spot at Red Bull for 2025.