Sergio Perez’s qualifying struggles have persisted, with the Mexican driver failing to reach Q3 in three consecutive events.
The streak began with a qualifying crash at Monaco, resulting in a challenging race and zero points in the principality.
While Perez showcased a commendable recovery from 11th to fourth in Spain, his performance in Canada demonstrated a lack of expected race day pace, finishing sixth.
Red Bull’s Team Principal, Christian Horner, believes that Perez’s confidence needs a boost and emphasised the importance of a solid weekend to regain momentum.
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Reflecting on Perez’s recent difficulties, Horner stated: “He’s had three difficult weekends, three difficult Saturdays, that then puts you on the backfoot on a Sunday.
“And we’ve seen what Checo is capable of, only a month or two ago.”
Horner expressed confidence in Perez’s ability to bounce back once he regains his form.
Regarding Perez’s future with the team, Horner dismissed any notion of it being under threat.
Acknowledging Perez’s current second-place position in the world championship standings and his two race victories alongside Max Verstappen, Horner emphasised the need to support Perez during this challenging period.
He expressed optimism that Perez would soon rediscover his form.
Perez himself acknowledged the need to address his struggles with the team’s engineers, particularly concerning his discomfort under braking in Canada.
When asked about his recent performance by Motorsport.com, Perez affirmed the team’s commitment to finding solutions, stating: “Certainly, we’re going to be working hard, together with the team back home, to make sure that we figure out what’s happening at the moment.”
He recognised the mental strength required to navigate challenging periods and expressed confidence in his ability to overcome these difficulties.
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Perez attributed his lack of pace to the mistake made in Monaco, acknowledging that without it, the team had demonstrated the necessary speed.
While Perez’s recent performances have raised concerns, both he and the Red Bull team remain determined to address the issues and regain their competitive edge.
The collaborative effort between Perez and the team’s engineers aims to identify and rectify the underlying causes of his struggles.