The Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix brought thrilling action and intense emotions, both on and off the track. One particular moment that caught the attention of fans and sparked speculations was the intriguing radio exchange between Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, and his driver, Sergio Perez. After qualifying third for the Spa-Francorchamps race, Perez’s exchange with Horner left people wondering if there was more to it than meets the eye.
Photo credit: Red Bull Racing
The exchange in question happened after Sergio Perez’s final qualifying lap, where he secured a decent third position behind his teammate Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Christian Horner took to the radio to congratulate the Mexican driver, to which Perez amusingly replied, “And you will talk to me now?”
Horner’s response added to the intrigue as he said, “I will talk to you. I said to you top five, mate. You’ve blitzed it.”
However, during the post-race press conference, Sergio Perez explained the context behind the exchange, clarifying that it was all in good humour. “It was a joke,” Perez said. “He came before qualifying and said: ‘if you’re not in the top three, I will not talk to you the rest of the weekend.’ So, he was talking to me the rest of the weekend.”
Photo credit: Red Bull Racing
To further add to the humour, Christian Horner playfully chimed in when asked about it after the race, “I told him that I wasn’t going to talk to him if he wasn’t in the top five and I would squeeze a part of his anatomy if he wasn’t. It seemed to do the job, so we’ll have to try that again in Zandvoort…”
The Belgian Grand Prix proved to be a turning point for Sergio Perez, who had faced some challenging weekends recently. Prior to the race at Spa-Francorchamps, Perez had failed to reach the Q3 shootout for five consecutive races and could only manage a ninth-place finish in Hungary.
Photo credit: Red Bull F1 Team
However, his solid performance in Belgium, securing a spot on the front row, leading the race at one point, and eventually finishing second, showcased his potential as a strong contender. Christian Horner believes that this result will instill greater confidence in Perez as they head into the summer shutdown.
“I think he’ll have taken a lot more confidence out of this weekend. He put it on the front row. He led the grand prix, finished second, he’s a clear second in the drivers’ world championship, so I think he’ll take some confidence out of it.”
As the dust settles on the Belgian Grand Prix, the lighthearted exchange between Christian Horner and Sergio Perez is revealed to be nothing more than an inside joke between driver and team principal. With their camaraderie intact, Perez’s newfound confidence will undoubtedly boost his performance in the races to come.
