“Sergio Perez is 110% motivated to beat Max Verstappen,” former world champion warns the Dutchman
Sergio Perez is currently intent on challenging his teammate Max Verstappen and is no longer satisfied being his wingman
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Sergio Perez via The Japan Times
Sergio Perez has begun his third season at Red Bull and is seemingly resolute when it comes to being a contender for the world title. The Mexican was initially satisfied with being a supporting driver to the Red Bull number one Verstappen and fulfilled the role admirably.
Over the course of their partnership, friction has led to a shift in the balance of power at the team, allowing Perez to claim an equal role as the Dutchman and challenge him for his crown, beginning with the next race at Azerbaijan. His resolve has been recognized by former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.
Speaking to My Betting Sites, Fittipaldi said “Now, Perez is going to be 110% motivated because he has the chance to win the championship. And he knows that. He knows that he has a chance to be the champion. I’m sure that he will give it his all now because he believes that he can win”. The Brazillian is convinced that Perez can show Verstappen his superiority and intent at the upcoming race in Baku.
Fittipaldi also praised Sergio Perez’s expertise and driving style regarding street circuits, and that his record reflected it. Perez already took a win in Azerbaijan in 2021, and most recently won at Jeddah, Singapore, and Monaco, showing they clearly fit his style of driving.
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Sergio Perez won’t hold back against Max Verstappen
The Mexican has emerged as a strong contender for Max Verstappen’s title this year after his strong showings in the first 3 races of the season. He has publicly demanded that he and his teammate obey the team’s orders, with no bias whatsoever, facilitating a fair fight in even machinery.
The gloves are clearly off, and Perez has no intention of staying on the sidelines and watching his counterpart bask in the glory of victory. He will take the fight to Verstappen and won’t make a 3rd consecutive world title a simple feat. The two have already had incidents on track that have sparked tension like that of Brazil 2022 and, most recently, Jeddah 2023, but Perez insists that they bear mutual respect for each other and will respect it until the very end.
Perez stood only one point behind the Dutchman after the Saudi GP, being edged out by the fastest lap point, which he felt was unjustly taken away from him by the team. He was clearly discontent with this miscommunication, sparking rumors of another rift. The following weekend, the 33-year-old had a torrid qualifying in Melbourne but made a stunning comeback in the race and took home P5. The upcoming race at Baku will prove crucial to his hopes of competing for the title, as consistency along with proficiency go a long way in this sport.
The Mexican superstar currently occupies second in the standings, having amassed 54 points. He trails the World champion by 15 points and will seek to reduce that gap at the coming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. As Emerson Fittipaldi said, his resolve cannot be questioned, as Perez clearly shows no lack of determination when it comes to besting Verstappen.
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Justin P Joy
(5010 Articles Published)