Sergio Perez has responded to inquiries regarding his new contract with Red Bull, suggesting that teammate Max Verstappen has unfairly overshadowed his true abilities. Currently positioned fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, Perez finds himself significantly trailing Verstappen by 86 points. Despite recent underwhelming performances in the Grand Prix, questions have arisen regarding the justification of his two-year contract extension by Red Bull management, particularly sparked by comments from former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner.
In defense against his critics, Perez implied that his performances might not be scrutinized as harshly if he were not paired with the current world number one. Speaking to RACER about external criticism, he stated, “A lot is said from the outside, but within the team, I have a reference, where I have the best driver on the grid next to me at the moment. He performs at such a high level, is one with the car… If you were to go to another team and have a different teammate, it would look very different. But it’s what I love, to have this challenge and to be Max’s teammate, that’s what really motivated me to keep going because it’s a huge challenge.”
Perez also acknowledged the demanding nature of driving for Red Bull, noting the mental fortitude required due to the team’s high expectations and history of swiftly replacing underperforming drivers. He continued, “I think you’ve seen from other drivers who have been here how difficult it is. I think Red Bull is different from any other team in that respect. Mentally it takes everything out of you and you have to be very mentally strong to handle the pressure who is always there with this team. But it’s what I love at this point in my career, it’s a challenge. Every day is a new challenge and you keep learning, you keep growing and I want to do the very best for this team.”
As Perez prepares to return to the track in upcoming weeks, the focus will be on whether he can quiet his critics through improved performances or if doubts about Red Bull’s decision will persist.
