Horner: Red Bull sticking with own talent pool

Michelle Foster
Max Verstappen Sergio Perez PA

Christian Horner has ruled out bringing Sergio Perez into the Red Bull fold, saying they want to “absolutely” stick with their own talent pool.

Perez replaced Sebastian Vettel as the headline act in the job market search when he announced on Wednesday night that he would be leaving Racing Point at the end of this season.

After seven years with the Silverstone team, Racing Point opted not to continue with the 30-year-old, instead signing Vettel as Lance Stroll’s 2021 team-mate.

“Hurt” by the team’s decision, Perez has already made it known that he wants to remain in Formula 1 next season.

However, it won’t be with Red Bull.

Team boss Horner says Red Bull, who have AlphaTauri as their junior team, won’t be signing anyone from the outside but would rather promote one of their own youngsters.

If, of course, the team even decided to change its line up having stated several times that they will persist with Alex Albon as Max Verstappen’s team-mate.

Horner told the media at Mugello: “Our preference has always been to nurture talent.

“Whether that’s Sebastian Vettel, whether that’s Daniel Ricciardo, whether that’s Max Verstappen they’ve all come through the junior programme, they’ve been schooled by Franz and they’ve always done well in Red Bull Racing’s seats.

“So our preference is always in that home-grown talent.

“If the pool isn’t big enough then of course, occasionally, you have to look outside of it.

“But our intention is absolutely to work with the talent pool that we have.”

Sergio Perez mask helmet.jpg

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Horner has recently been in contact with Perez’s manager, Julian Jakobi, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko asked about those chats.

He, however, made it clear that it had nothing to do with the Mexican driver.

“Yes, he is in contact with Perez’s management, but that is because Julian Jakobi also manages [Red Bull test driver Sebastien] Buemi,” Marko told Motorsport-Magazin.com. “That doesn’t mean anything.”

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