This season, Max Verstappen has already earned his second consecutive Formula One title, but Sergio Perez may pose the greatest threat to his aspirations of a three-peat in 2023.
Before the United States Grand Prix, Perez discussed his future with Red Bull Racing with Insider at the Patron Pit Stop in Austin. Perez inked an extension earlier this year to remain with the organization through at least the 2024 season.
When asked if he believes he can win a title with Red Bull, Perez responded with conviction.
“Yeah, absolutely, Perez said. “I believe I can contend for the title next year… It is what I wish to achieve.”
This would seem to contradict Christian Horner, the team principal for Red Bull Racing.
In a lengthy interview with the Cambridge Union, Horner was asked how he manages F1’s peculiar dynamic, in which comrades are also rivals and one is frequently asked to sacrifice himself to aid the other.
Horner remarked, “I believe [Perez] was an outstanding team servant last season, assisting his teammates on countless occasions.” “Certainly in the most recent race, when he did an incredible job of supporting Lewis [Hamilton]. Max would not have won the championship without that.”
Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.
Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Horner stated that this year’s cars were reset and that Perez is more “at home,” which adds another layer of complexity for him and Verstappen.
“[Perez] now believes that he is capable of become a world champion,” Horner stated. “Therefore, this adds another element to a situation where, yeah, our major competition is Ferrari, but the drivers want to compete each other.”
Red Bull’s decisions on the circuits have done little to dispel the notion that Perez is still there to assist the team and Verstappen, despite the fact that this may be Perez’s current thinking.
During the Spanish Grand Prix, when Perez was requested twice not to race for the win despite being the day’s most dominant driver, this dynamic came to the forefront. Perez was heard on the radio describing the instruction to allow Verstappen past as “extremely unjust” on one occasion. After placing second behind his buddy, Perez was later overheard saying, “I’m delighted for the squad, but we need to speak later.”
It is unclear what was said after that race, but since then, Perez has won two races, tripling his career victory total, and finished second four times in 12 races, leapfrogging Charles Leclerc into second position in the standings while losing points to his coworker.
Moreover, it is evident that Perez no longer believes that his club is holding him back. When Perez was asked if he believed that to be true, he responded quickly and categorically, “No, not at all.”