Christian Horner says it was Sergio Perez's decision to leave Red Bull after four seasons with the team. (More Motorsport News)
After a strong start to the 2024 season, the 34-year-old stꦿruggled in the latter stages, scoring just nine points in the last eight Grand Prix weekends.
Last week, it was agreed that his contract, which he ha༒d signed in June and ran until the end of 2026, would terminate early, with Liam La🦄wson coming in to replace him next season.
Despite his disappointing season, Horner insists it was Perez who came to the conclusi✃on that he would take some time out after a Formula One career which began in 2011 and spanned 14 seasons.
Horner said: "Checo, he's been a fantastic member of this team. It's been a tough year for him, but▨ he's a great person and, of course, [he] played such a key role in the '21 drivers' championship, '22 and '23 constructors'.
"He was second in the drivers' world championship last year, he's won five Grands Prix in our cars. But he reflected after the season, and we sat down and discussed it last week about what are the next steps, and he's decided that he'🍬s going to take a bit of time out.
"We're sad to see him leave the team, but obviously, it's time for him to spend with his young family as well and reflect o𒁃n what he wants to do for the future."
Perez ended the 2024 season ღeighth in the championship, 285 points adrift of world championship-winning teammate Max Verstappen, while Red Bull lostඣ out in the constructors' championship, finishing third behind Ferrari and winners McLaren.
Horner believes the huge points difference b♔etween Perez 🌠and Verstappen may have had an effect on the Mexican's confidence, while admitting that his poor form was detrimental to how Red Bell fared in the constructors' battle.
“Of ๊course, the car became more narrow in its perform🦹ance window, and he struggled with that compared to Max," Horner added.
"But obviously [with] such an enormous gulf in points difference between the two drivers, he was struggling with that, and that, o𒈔f course, then puts more pressure on him and the harder you try sometimes the slower you go, and it became almost l🎃ike a vicious circle for him.
"It♍'s been a hugely frustrating🐈 campaign for him, and of course, that's hurt us quite badly in the constructors' championship."
The Red Bull team principal also rubﷺbished claims Perez might join sister team RB in a move which alrea🐎dy occurred with the likes of Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat when they were dropped by the team.
He said: "I think at t꧂he stage that Checo's at in his career that wouldn't really have been an opti𝐆on.
"For him, it was nothing that we really ever discussed, or we didn't discuss or even talk about. He's com🐷e to this decision now and, obviously, we su🦹pport it fully."
