Christian Horner: Sergio Perez is in world title fight alongside Max Verstappen

Red Bull boss Christian Horner says that Sergio Perez is just as much in the Drivers’ title fight as team-mate Max Verstappen.

The Mexican driver put on a clinic at the Monaco Grand Prix as he got his tyre switch from wet to dry absolutely spot on and then held on for victory ahead of Carlos Sainz and Verstappen.

Indeed, it was a fine drive from Checo who showed his class over the weekend and he now sits just 15 points behind Max who is currently leading the Drivers’ standings.

And, for Horner, it’s currently clear that both of his drivers have a shot at the world championship this season:

“He’s in this championship just as much as Max is,” he said to Sky Sports.

“The difference between the two of them is 15 points. It’s nothing.

“It’s a long way to go in this championship and we can see that Ferrari has a very fast car.

“They had a better car than us on this race track this weekend.

“I think through great teamwork, great work from the drivers, pit wall, the double stop we managed to beat them here.

“That’s not going to be easy at the coming races. As a team we’ve always got to optimise our performance and at the back end of the championship, that’s where it’s going to get really exciting.

“He’s been on it all weekend, it was well deserved. His pace on the in and out lap from the extreme wets onto the Inters was strong. The team worked a double stop that allowed both of our drivers to pick off a Ferrari, which was fantastic.

“He’s doing a great job. Look at his performances so far, in Jeddah he had that amazing pole. The time delta between him and Max has been a lot, lot closer this year. To win this race, his third victory, what a place to get that.”