Max Verstappen defends teammate Sergio Perez’s lack of podiums amidst replacement rumors
Max Verstappen defended Sergio Perez amid criticism after his struggles contributed to Red Bull slipping to third in the Constructors' standings.
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Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen (via RaceFans)
Max Verstappen has demonstrated remarkable skills and resilience, consistently achieving strong finishes despite ongoing car issues at Red Bull. However, his teammate Sergio Perez has struggled with a performance slump throughout the 2024 season, particularly since the Chinese GP.
Despite the increasing criticism aimed at Checo, Verstappen has stepped up to support him, acknowledging that even he finds it tough to reach the podium. Sergio Perez had a strong start to the 2024 season, achieving three podium finishes in the first four races.
However, as the season progressed, especially during the European leg, Perez struggled to match Max Verstappen’s performance. He frequently failed to advance past qualifying, ending up in the midfield instead of competing for top spots.
Despite expectations for a strong performance at his home race in Mexico, his difficulties continued. Verstappen stated that Perez is not the one to blame for not finishing in the top 3 as even he is struggling to do so.
It’s even hard for me to be on the podium consistently. I think since China, it’s been quite difficult – other teams have caught up, they’ve had good performance upgrades and even for me, it’s been hard to be on the podium consistently. I think we just need to work hard to improve the car and that will definitely help Checo.
Max Verstappen stated
Since midseason, the RB20 faced serious balance issues, which disrupted Red Bull’s performance and gave other teams an edge as they improved their cars. Verstappen’s win in Spain was his last before dealing with these problems, leading to several races without a victory.
???️ | Max when asked about Checo's lack of podium finishes this season: "It's even hard for me to be on podium consistently
— RBR News ???? (@redbulletin) October 31, 2024
"I think since China, it's been quite difficult – other teams have caught up, they've had good performance upgrades and even for me, it's been hard to be… pic.twitter.com/Jn13gEvSwp
Sergio Perez confirms he would not opt for a floor change at the Brazilian GP
Ahead of the Brazilian GP, Sergio Perez shared that his car won’t get the new floor upgrade for the race. Developing and installing a new floor takes time, and with only a week between races, Red Bull decided not to introduce it for Brazilian weekend.
However, Perez remains optimistic, hoping that by the Las Vegas GP, the longer gap between races will give the team enough time to fully prepare and make the upgrade happen.
No, we don’t have it at the moment. And, yes, I hope that by Las Vegas, now that there will be a little more time, I can have it.
Sergio Perez said, as reported by Motorsport
Despite the disadvantages, Perez remains focused on maximizing the performance of the current package. He is currently on the brink of the axe, with rumors stating that the team might replace him even before the season ends.
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Gaurang Kadam
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