Horner Defends Pérez’s Engineer Following Criticism from Mexican Media

During the race weekend in Mexico, Sergio Pérez had hoped for a potential turnaround, but his performance fell short right from the qualifying rounds. The local favorite failed to progress beyond Q3 for yet another time, ultimately securing a disappointing eighteenth position on the grid for the Grand Prix. The intense scrutiny from the Mexican media has turned its focus on Pérez’s race engineer, Hugh Bird; however, team principal Christian Horner stands firmly in defense of the British technician.

Challenges Facing Sergio Pérez

This season has seen Sergio Pérez’s fans witnessing a troubling decline in his championship standings. As of now, his teammate Max Verstappen, who is firmly in contention for the title, has amassed more than double the points collected by Pérez. Currently, Pérez is languishing in eighth position, trailing behind competitors from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. The intense pressure from the Mexican media has led them to target his race engineer, Hugh Bird, as a scapegoat for Pérez’s struggles. Meanwhile, Horner has been grappling with the latest setbacks for Pérez but remains determined to back Bird.

Horner Stands by Hugh Bird

“In this age of social media, everyone has an opinion about everything,” Horner remarked as the Mexican Grand Prix approached. “As a race engineer, the voice that guides a driver through a race is put under a microscope. Of course, everyone is entitled to their view, but I personally believe that Hugh (Bird) is doing an exceptional job. He’s incredibly intelligent and has grown within Red Bull, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to his driver and the entire team.”

Media Critique and Its Implications

Continuing his defense, Horner stated, “It’s very easy for outsiders to judge and criticize. These individuals often .comy have about one percent of the actual facts. It’s great that Formula 1 has opened its doors, providing fans with unprecedented access; however, this has led to the emergence of so-called ‘experts’ who believe they know better,” a clear nod to the criticism leveled by the Mexican press. “Hugh Bird is an extremely talented engineer and has become an integral part of our team.”

Questioning Pérez’s Future

Indirectly, Horner’s comments also suggest that Pérez’s lackluster season could, in part, be attributed to his own performance. It has become somewhat of an open secret that Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are both vying for the chance to replace the 34-year-old driver should his struggles continue. Previously, advisor Helmut Marko indicated that the two-year contract Pérez signed in July is considered “worthless” if he fails to improve his performance.

As the season unfolds, it remains to be seen how Pérez will respond to the mounting pressure, both on and off the track. In the world of Formula 1, where every race counts and driver dynamics are constantly evolving, the stakes have never been higher for Pérez and his team. .comy time will tell if he can regain his footing and silence the critics that surround him.