Image: FERENC ISZA (AFP)
Some observers saw it as symptomatic when Sergio Perez put his Red Bull car in the track boundary during Friday practice for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix (3 p.m. live on ServusTV).
Because at the latest since Nyck de Vries was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo eleven days ago in the Red Bull sister team Alpha Tauri, Perez could be the next to fall victim to the optimization efforts of motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. Although the Mexican is in second place behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ World Championship, the direct comparison with his team-mate does not give a good report.
Although both have practically the same material available, the difference in the number of points is enormous. Verstappen’s 162 faces Perez’s 69 in the last six races. The difference is even clearer in the qualifying sessions. While the Dutchman was on pole position five times recently, Perez did not even manage to reach the third qualifying round with the superior car on several occasions.
For this he had to put up with public criticism from team boss Christian Horner. On average, Verstappen is 0.66 seconds faster than Perez in qualifying, which is the largest gap of all driver pairings in the Formula 1 field. The contract of 33-year-old Perez lasts until the end of 2024, but an ongoing contract was of little use to De Vries.
the good friend
Perez didn’t want to give the talk much importance: “We’re in Formula 1 here. You have to deliver at all times.” He has proven that he can do it, Perez asserted that he thinks the team is behind him. “Checo” – that’s his nickname – has been doing the rounds in the “premier class” for 13 years. A time that taught him not to concern himself with the more distant future.
When it comes to a short-term successor to the second Red Bull Racing cockpit, Ricciardo has a good hand. On the one hand, the Australian knows the team and, on the other hand, he has a good relationship with Verstappen. “I never wanted Daniel to go,” says the two-time world champion of his former teammate. “It’s no secret that we get along well,” Verstappen continues.
Source: Nachrichten
