24 July 2023 , 06:00
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Christian Horner hailed Sergio Perez for his "brave" performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Mexican has been under pressure amid a run of five consecutive qualifying sessions without a top 10 start. But he put an end to that run by reaching Q3 in Budapest on Saturday.
Still, though, he could only qualify ninth in another underwhelming display in the quickest car on the grid. That meant he needed a big performance in Sunday's race, and that's what Perez delivered.
He finished on the podium, settling for third place having given up on hunting down the impressive Lando Norris, who split Perez and Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen. It was only his second podium in the last six races despite his car advantage.
The pressure upon his shoulders has only intensified in the last two weeks since Daniel Ricciardo's return to the F1 grid was confirmed. Installed at sister team AlphaTauri, the Aussie has made no secret of his desire to take the seat currently occupied by Perez.
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In light of all that, team principal Horner feels his man put in a "statement" performance at the Hungaroring. And he made it clear that this is what he wants to see more of from the 33-year-old in the coming weeks and months.
Horner said: "His recovery, his overtaking was brave. His pace was fast, the way he made the places, passing cars, passing Fernando [Alonso], passing [Oscar] Piastri – the strategy that he had, he was on fire today.
Christian Horner hailed Sergio Perez's performance (Getty Images)"A race like that only gives you a huge amount of confidence. I think his overtaking, the bravery that he showed, for me that was really a statement drive today to say, 'Look, don't write me off'."
Perez was named driver of the day by watching fans. But Norris, who held off the charging Red Bull in his McLaren to finish second ahead of the Mexican, did not appear too impressed about that – clearly feeling the accolade should have gone his way.
The Brit said in his post-race interview: "He got driver of the day, what the hell?" He smirked after that before adding: "I need a quicker car," and later concluding: "But I don't care – I finished P2."