Perez has faced his fair share of difficulties as Max Verstappen’s team-mate throughout 2023, and he has failed to win a race in the dominant RB19 since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
His struggles have at times prompted questions about Red Bull potentially trying to find a way to terminate the contract he has for 2024 and slot a replacement in.
Speculation on that front has further been fuelled by suggestions that Red Bull’s mindset on the matter will be decided by whether or not Perez finishes runner-up to Verstappen in the F1 title chase.
But Horner insists that is not the case, and says that while Red Bull would like nothing more than Perez to finish runner-up, his seat for next year is guaranteed irrespective of what happens.
“There's no pre-mandate like that,” said Horner when asked if Perez’s future rested on finishing second.
“We've never finished first and second in a championship. We finished first and third a few times with Mark [Webber] and Sebastian [Vettel] and we finished it last year with Max and Checo.
“So, with this car, it would be fantastic, in such a season that we've had, if we could finish first and second.
“But there's no pre-mandate on Checo that you have to finish second or you won't be driving the car next year. That's never been discussed.”
Source: Autosport