Red Bull Racing’s team principal, Christian Horner, has sent a clear warning to Sergio Perez after the recent dismissal of Daniel Ricciardo from the team. Ricciardo, a former eight-time Formula One race winner, was let go after a disappointing 2024 season, marking the end of his long and storied career in the sport.

Ricciardo’s exit from Red Bull was not unexpected, with the Australian struggling to find consistent form throughout the season. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, particularly during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Ricciardo’s overall performance did not meet the team’s expectations. As Horner explained, “I think it was the lack of consistency,” which ultimately led to the decision to release him.

Ricciardo had been racing for Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, as a backup driver in case Perez failed to deliver consistent results. However, with Ricciardo unable to solidify his position, Red Bull opted to give 22-year-old New Zealand driver Liam Lawson the opportunity to take over for the final six races of the season. This decision gives Lawson the chance to prove himself as a potential future partner for Max Verstappen in the senior Red Bull team.

“All the drivers are under pressure to deliver,” Horner said, “but the reason why Daniel was in that car was to get himself back into a position to ultimately be there to pick up the pieces if Checo [Perez] didn’t deliver.”

Perez, who started the season strong, has experienced fluctuations in form throughout 2024. While he remains a crucial part of the Red Bull lineup, Horner’s comments suggest that Perez’s place in the team is not guaranteed. Lawson’s promotion puts additional pressure on Perez to finish the season on a high note, especially with Red Bull evaluating its driver options for 2025.

“In a perfect world, we would have let Daniel see out the season,” Horner admitted. “But from a broader perspective, we need answers for the bigger picture in terms of drivers.”

With Lawson now paired with Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri for the remaining races, Red Bull’s management will closely monitor the young driver’s performance as they make plans for the 2025 season. As for Perez, the message is clear: consistent performance is key to securing his future with Red Bull Racing.