Mika Häkkinen labels Sergio Perez as the ‘naughty’ enforcer of Red Bull’s ‘dirty tactics’
The willingness to go the extra mile for the team is one of the most appreciated characteristics of Sergio Perez.
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Mika Häkkinen and Sergio Perez
Mika Häkkinen, the two-time Formula 1 world champion, recently sat down with Unibet International for an interview that has sparked discussion within the F1 community. In the interview, Häkkinen spoke about Sergio Perez’s role at Red Bull, explaining that he is the team’s “naughty one” who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. While Häkkinen admits that this tactic may be viewed as “dirty,” it works out the champions making Perez a valuable asset.
Perez joined Red Bull Racing for the 2021 season, replacing Alexander Albon as Max Verstappen‘s teammate. Häkkinen acknowledges Perez’s success at Red Bull and also admires his obedience towards the team and his doing the “naughty things” that his team asks him to do, stating– “What I mean by being naughty is- that sometimes the team asks him to do things, such as slowing others down. Sergio doesn’t care. He’ll slow them down if the team wants. Whether it’s the quali or the race, he’ll do what he’s asked to do,”.
Häkkinen’s comments about Perez’s role at Red Bull come from Perez’s staunch defenses and selfless actions. The Mexican’s most remarkable feat came at the title decider of the 2021 season, where he displayed a masterful performance by holding off Lewis Hamilton. In doing so, Perez allowed his teammate Max Verstappen to close in on his rival and eventually win the race and the championship. Hamilton himself called Perez’s driving “dangerous” during the race, highlighting just how effective Perez’s tactics were.
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‘The Flying Finn’ believes Redbull is the team to beat in 2023
Häkkinen also discussed the strength of the Red Bull team in the same interview, citing their financial stability and technical development. He believes it is challenging for other teams to snatch points off Red Bull, and technical development failures or unreliability are the only things that could give other teams a chance. Häkkinen also praised Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, who he worked with during his racing career, for his vision and talent.
The former world champion agrees that the Dutchman Verstappen is the superior driver and currently the fastest driver on the grid, and “It takes something supernatural to beat him,” in his words. Häkkinen’s comments provide insight into the challenges that other teams face in trying to keep up with Red Bull.
The Austrian Team has recently stated that they have found a solution to tune their car that suits both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, after previously tailoring the car for Verstappen’s driving style. Moreover, Red Bull has completed the pre-season testing with no major issues and hopes to repeat their last season’s success, where they won both the constructors’ and Max drivers’ championships. These developments have further cemented Red Bull’s position as a formidable force in the upcoming F1 season.
Häkkinen’s interview with Unibet International has generated buzz on social media, with fans praising Perez’s willingness to help the team win and Häkkinen’s continued involvement in the sport despite retiring in 2001. As the F1 season is about to kick off, it will be interesting to see how Perez’s role at Red Bull evolves and whether his “dirty” tactics will continue to be successful.
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