Red Bull carried out a faultless season in 2023, with the only blip on their perfect record coming in Singapore, perhaps for the best. However, despite its prowess in the season, it was all accredited to one man: Max Verstappen. His teammate, Sergio Perez, on the other hand, had a largely disappointing season and has become the team’s Achilles’ heel. Even more so now that 2024 is suspected to be more competitive. This is precisely why a Dutch champion has issued a warning to the Red Bull boss, Christian Horner

Sergio Perez had a forgettable run where he could not even qualify for Q3 in the fastest car on the grid in consecutive race weekends. Despite that, Christian Horner was always protective of the Mexican and defended him every step of the way. This is precisely why the Dutch WTCC champ, Tom Coronel, has issued a warning to Horner.

Coronel exposed the general perception of every Dutchman toward the Mexican. He also expressed how he believes Max Verstappen is the reason behind Perez’s misery. This is exactly why the Red Bull boss is urged to cut his losses and get rid of the Mexican as soon as the 2024 season. Coronel made this suggestion in his recent conversation with the media, as quoted by Formula Passion.

“[If I had been] in place of Red Bull, I would have simply terminated the contract and told Perez: ‘Have some caipirinhas on the beach in Mexico and never come back,’” said Coronel. He then expressed his opinion on how Verstappen’s killer instinct is wreaking havoc on Perez’s time at Red Bull. He added, “I say this in a positive way, but this guy [Verstappen] is the biggest b****rd you can imagine. Compared to Max, Perez is too soft. He looks like a tourist.” [Translated via Google]Read More: Christian Horner Highlights Sergio Perez’s “Struggle” After Charles Leclerc Exploits Red Bull’s Mediocrity

This is a brutal assessment from the Dutchman who has nothing to lose and can express his opinions freely. However, this is the kind of reception that Horner has shielded Perez from time and again, and he did so recently as well.

What is Christian Horner’s defense for Sergio Perez?

Horner has stood by Perez on multiple occasions, especially after his incredible dip in performance in the middle of the season. In fact, Horner went against Helmut Marko to defend Perez’s future at Red Bull. This is exactly what he did at the end of the season as well when questions about Perez’s performances were raised in front of Horner. This came after former Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly expressed he wanted an explanation from the team for his ouster in 2019.

When asked why Red Bull chose to put its faith in Perez instead of Gasly in 2021, Horner said, “We had the opportunity to evaluate Pierre very well, the way he drove, his strengths and weaknesses. I’ve known Sergio for a long time. I pushed hard to bring him into the team, especially due to his wealth of experience.” Horner added, “He won four races for us. He played a crucial role in the championship in 2021, so I think he justified why we signed him.” 

Watch This Story: Sergio Perez Caught in the Crossfire as Sebastian Vettel Dismisses All Attempts to Downplay Verstappen’s Dominance

The Mexican got his lifeline for 2024 with the trust of the boss, keeping him in the team for another season. However, beyond 2024, we likely don’t see him racing for Red Bull. Do you? If he wants to change this perspective, Sergio Perez will need to get some serious output in the upcoming season.