Christian Horner delivered an uncompromising communication to Sergio Perez, the driver has disclosed.

The 52-year-old former Red Bull principal is under renewed attention after Perez recounted the conversation in a fresh interview.

Horner, who resides on the Oxfordshire frontier with his spouse Geri Halliwell close to Banbury, previously managed Red Bull’s Formula 1 activities from the Milton Keynes headquarters prior to his exit.

Perez maintained that the stark communication and prior talks with Horner indicated his position during his four-year stint at Red Bull spanning 2021 to 2024.

The 36-year-old, who teamed up with Max Verstappen during this period, remembered how his former team boss outlined the hierarchy during their initial discussion about his responsibilities.

According to Perez, during their first meeting, Horner explained that the team only races with two cars out of necessity, noting the team would prefer to focus on a single car if given the choice.

Horner reportedly told Perez that the team structure and resources were centered around Verstappen, with the primary goal being to win championships alongside the Dutch driver.

Perez indicated the frank evaluation left him with no confusion about what awaited once he committed to the team.

Perez confirmed he understood the team dynamics before joining, acknowledging the well-defined objectives from the start.

During his tenure with the Milton Keynes-based squad, the Mexican racer secured five grand prix wins, 26 podium appearances and finished runner-up in the 2023 drivers’ standings, before parting ways with Red Bull after the 2024 campaign.