Beat Max Verstappen. It is the obsession of ‘Czech’ Perez in this 2023 season. The Mexican pilot faces his third year in Red Bull with the clear objective of be world championand after two seasons in which he has had a clear secondary rolewants to hit the table to fight for the title.
The Jalisco driver seems capable of beating Verstappen, but he is aware that he needs to give his best version to have any chance. “Against Verstappen I can’t leave anything about the monthto. Max always maximizes the potential of the car, if I go to 99.99% it won’t be enough. For me this season is a great opportunity and I face it that way. I feel closer than ever. Each year is one year less, I keep in mind that I am closer to the end of my career than the beginning”, Pérez assured in an interview with ‘El Mundo’.
‘Checo’ is aware that consistency has been his great weakness since he arrived at Red Bull, something that cannot be allowed if he wants to beat Verstappen: “I have to be at my best level in all races. Last year it was difficult for me to understand the degradation with these new generation Pirelli tires and now I have it very much in mind. Also last year the weight distribution of the car changed a lot and that didn’t benefit me.”
in 2022 finished third in the world of drivers, losing the runner-up to charles leclerc in the last race. The Mexican driver assures that repeating that result again this season would be a failure. “It doesn’t even cross my mind to finish below my current position (second). I haven’t considered it. If I thought about finishing third or fourth, I would leave Formula 1, I would go home and look for another job,” says Pérez.
‘Czech’, optimistic for Baku
He Azerbaijan Grand Prix It is an appointment marked in red on Pérez’s calendar. The Baku street circuit is a talisman track for the Mexican, who is the driver who has been on the podium the most times in the Azeri capital. He has done it three times, including the 2021 win.
Therefore, he believes that this weekend he has a great opportunity to achieve his second victory of the season. “Here you must have a lot of confidence in your car and I have had it at various times. The statistics say that street circuits are good for me, but stats don’t make you go faster. I have to stop speculating and concentrate,” she explains.
Admiration for Alonso
The return of Fernando Alonso to the forward positions has undoubtedly been the great news at the start of the season. The good start of Aston Martin makes ‘Checo’ place the Asturian among his main rivals in the title fight.
“The Ferraris are very strong, I’m worried about their level of efficiency. It’s early, the season has just started, but together with them without a doubt Fernando is going to be one of those closest to us. If we look at his evolution last season, it’s clear that he’s going to be there,” predicts Pérez.
The Mexican values the ambition of the Asturian, and when asked about a virtue, he is clear: “Always go to the maximum. It seems easy, but there are very few pilots who can do it. Fernando does it“.
Sergio Pérez is one of the drivers who knows Aston Martin best. He drove for the Silverstone team for seven seasons, between 2014 and 2020, under the names of Force India and Racing Point. Despite the fact that he left the team in a turbulent way, he does not hesitate to praise the project led by Lawrence Stroll. “It’s incredible. I’m very happy for the team, because I was there recently and I still know a lot of people. Lawrence Stroll’s ambition is great. And I’m also happy for Fernando, he already had a competitive car”, says ‘Checo’.
