Sergio Perez has been criticised by a former Formula 1 star who believes the Mexican could attack Red Bull in this year’s title race.
Red Bull has the toughest car on the grid and a driver in Max Verstappen who rarely fails to make the most of it. The Dutchman won the first two races of the year and was leading in Melbourne when a brake fire ended his race prematurely.
In such scenarios, Red Bull wants its other driving force to intensify its efforts. But Perez struggled to find speed and in the end could only finish fifth, the Ferrari and McLaren cars that had never been competing for the podium.
It was Ferrari who took all the credit for this, as Carlos Sainz took the win and teammate Charles Leclerc finished right in second place. The Italians are now just 4 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
Team principal Christian Horner admitted last October that Perez’s form was a fear because, although Red Bull has an incredible car, all of its rivals have more balanced motive power partnerships. The 50-year-old himself said his team would struggle this year if the Mexican failed with his results.
Horner said: “We can’t make a big separation because if, as expected, the grid continues to work in combination [in 2024], we want either driver to be at his best.
It remains to be seen whether Ferrari will continue to take full advantage of Perez’s struggles. But former driver René Arnoux subsidised them to do just that, thus offering a tough party for Red Bull in the fight for the constructors’ title.
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“We missed Verstappen [in Melbourne] because of a technical issue, but Ferrari were smart to be there, they made the most of the weekend,” the Frenchman told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport. “After all, we knew from the first GP that the car was much bigger than the 2023 car.
“It’s a lot closer to Red Bull, we had it fully confirmed in Australia. We’re still not up there with Red Bull, but we’re close. But it’s also true that Red Bull only has one car in front, because Perez is number two. “sometimes three. Disappears.
“I’m with Ferrari and for Ferrari. . . In fact, I like the fact that for a while, in each and every race, they have almost controlled being a few tenths behind. I hope they can play for the constructors,” he said. Of course, also because it’s not exactly that Perez is at a very high level. In fact, I’d say that if it doesn’t cause primary problems, Ferrari almost has a better chance than Red Bull.
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