Sergio Pérez is making the Formula 1 World Championship exciting this year: Ironically, Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen’s teammate is claiming his first title. Before the race in Miami he sent the Dutchman a little challenge.
After his fabulous weekend in Baku, Sergio Pérez is the man of the hour in Formula 1. The Mexican was able to reduce the gap to Max Verstappen to a meager six points thanks to his victories in the sprint and the main race.
Both Red Bull drivers were able to get two wins from the four races they have driven so far – the direct duel in Miami therefore seems correspondingly explosive. Pérez, long labeled as Verstappen’s “Wingman” and clear number two in the team, now senses his chance. It was an “incredible pleasure”, quoted “BBC” the 33-year-old before the race weekend, now driving for the title. “You work towards it your whole life.”
Pérez knows he only has “a chance to beat Max if you drive perfectly and deliver when it counts”. The five-time Grand Prix winner will certainly start with great self-confidence in the USA.
“Respect between Max and I is pretty big”
In addition, Pérez relies on equal opportunities in his own racing team. There are repeated rumors among the Red Bulls about a stable order that should bring Verstappen advantages, although the Red Bull bosses have always denied that requirement.
“I think the team gives me as much support as Max does,” said Pérez: “In that regard, we have to really appreciate Red Bull’s. It would be very easy to give instructions from lap 20 and say that we’re supposed to take care of the cars and make sure we have reliable cars.”
When asked about the tensions that are always evident between him and Max Verstappen, the Red Bull man emphasized: “The respect between Max and me and the engineers is quite great, even if people may see it differently.”