It is known that both of Red Bull’s Formula 1 teams changed their driver line-up for the current season; the main team took Sergio Pérez as Max Verstappen’s teammate while AlphaTauri signed rookie Yuki Tsunoda to drive alongside Pierre Gasly.

Perez’s performance has impressed his bosses with his teamwork and role as a second driver to Max Verstappen, even though he has had a harder time adjusting to the RB16B than anticipated.

There have been increasing indicators that Red Bull plans to keep Perez for the upcoming season. Horner hinted that there was no reason to move Gasly from the team leader position he has been strongly fulfilling at AlphaTauri.

The Brit added that Red Bull did the right thing in looking outside of their driver academy at the end of last season and feels that Perez has proved that that move was the right one and he is worth it.

“Our view has always been to give youth the chance and I think Red Bull, more than any other team, has done that,” said Horner.

“But occasionally, you need to step out of the programme.

“I think it was a brave decision to do that, but I think it was the right decision. The dynamic in the team is working well.

“Pierre is doing a fantastic job at AlphaTauri and is still very much a Red Bull racing driver, so we're in a good place.” 

Despite Perez having difficulty from being able to extract the maximum pace from their 2021 challenger, Horner says that the Mexican driver has delivered what has been expected and needed from him by being a disruptor to the former silver arrows, and picking up the pieces when his teammate has had a bad day.

“I think Sergio has delivered the role that we've been hoping for,” said Horner.

“You saw that in Baku when he picked up a victory on the day that he was able to put Lewis under pressure

“He’s been collecting those constructors’ points, and playing the team game, as we saw at the French GP. He's a great team player and we're very happy with the job he's doing.”