Sergio Perez cautious of Mercedes and Ferrari closing the gap to Red Bull amidst his fierce showdown with Max Verstappen
Perez is wary of the field improving while he is caught up in his fight with his teammate
Follow Us
Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen via The Guardian and Irish Mirror
Red Bull has continued as the dominant force in the opening five races of the 2023 F1 season, securing all five race victories, with Max Verstappen claiming three and Sergio Perez claiming two. Four of these victories have been 1-2 in their favor, reiterating how clear they are of the rest of the field.
The Mexican, however, is not taking this advantage for granted and is cautious of Mercedes and Ferrari catching up with the Bulls amidst their internal title fight. When asked by Racingnews365 about this, he said, “Yeah. The margins are very close, particularly on Saturdays. On Sunday, it depends a bit circuit to circuit, so it’s important not to make mistakes.”
Aston Martin has emerged as an unexpected competitor this season and is currently the fastest on the grid after Red Bull. They are their closest competitors at the moment. Their experienced star driver Fernando Alonso has consistently shared the podium with the duo from Red Bull and has guided them to second place in the constructors’ standings.
Red Bull’s current advantage at the top is 122 points, from which Mercedes and Ferrari are even further behind. However, F1 is an unpredictable spectacle, and with upgrades due for the likes of the teams from Brackley and Maranello in the upcoming races, they could close the deficit if Red Bull grows complacent.
Max Verstappen gave Sergio Perez a nasty wake-up call at Miami
Max Verstappen delivered a powerful reminder to Sergio Perez that he is determined to hold onto his world championship title. With unwavering determination and impeccable execution, the Dutch driver showcased his ruthlessness by securing victory at the Miami Grand Prix. In a display of clinical efficiency, Verstappen left his teammate, Perez, who aims to challenge him for the championship, far behind.
Despite starting the race with an eight-place gap between them, Perez in pole position and Verstappen in ninth, the outcome was vastly different. When the checkered flag waved, the reigning world champion had established a substantial five-second lead over his teammate. His exceptional mastery of pace and tire management was on full display, leaving Pérez unable to mount a significant challenge.
Fortunately for the Dutchman, the RB19’s exceptional straight-line speed and the use of DRS meant that he faced minimal resistance during the race. Red Bull’s car dominates all types of tracks and surfaces, surpassing its competitors significantly. Their car’s superiority remains unmatched by any other team in the championship thus far.
Verstappen has now widened the gap to his teammate, making it 14 points after Miami. He is yet to extend this leader further and run away with it, as he did the previous year, but that will undoubtedly be his primary goal going into the next few race weekends.
In case you missed it:
- “You’re next in line to quit,” Toto Wolff takes a cheeky swipe at Christian Horner following Franz Tost’s exit
- Mercedes reveal their hopes from much-anticipated Imola F1 upgrades as they continue to chase Red Bull
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)