After the weak Formula 1 qualification for the Spanish Grand Prix, the pressure on World Championship runner-up Sergio Perez is increasing.
“He has to concentrate more on driving again, not on world titles and so on. I hope he finds himself again,” said Red Bulls motorsport consultant Helmut Marko on “Sky”.
The Mexican Perez was only eleventh in the time hunt on Saturday and is going far behind Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen in the race on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky) in Barcelona.
After two wins this season, Perez thought he was in the title fight with Verstappen, but had to cope with a few sporting setbacks in Spain, just like in Monaco a week ago.
“The whole weekend was actually between three and five tenths of a second behind. That went through,” said Marko about Perez’s gap to the dominant defending champion Verstappen, who confidently raced into first place on the grid. “You can rely on Max. He shows the potential of the car,” praised Marko the two-time champion.
Perez was ‘psychologically on a World Cup dream trip’
Perez does not have to fear any consequences, and replacing the 33-year-old during the season is currently not an issue.
“This is now the second race weekend that isn’t running. Psychologically, he was on a dream trip to the World Cup and it’s a relatively hard wake-up call now,” said Marko, adding: “Nevertheless, we know what he’s capable of. I’m sure that he will recover.”
Perez slipped into the gravel bed in Barcelona after a driving error and then dropped out in the second qualifying section because he didn’t make it into the top ten.
Before the seventh round of the season in Catalonia, Verstappen leads the championship standings with 39 points ahead of Perez. Verstappen had already triumphed in Barcelona last year and is again a big favorite. Perez still wants to try to make it onto the podium.