Ralf Schumacher claims Max Verstappen’s entourage seeks to oust ‘selfish’ Sergio Perez from Red Bull
Sergio Perez is now challenging Max Verstappen for the 2023 title.
Follow Us
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (Credits: Sports Illustrated)
Sergio Perez has emerged as an unexpected title contender in 2023. He won the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix becoming the first-ever driver to win twice at the high-intensity street circuit. With this victory, Perez has now cemented himself as a contender. He drives more selfishly and seeks to challenge Max Verstappen for his crown, rather than play second fiddle.
Ralf Schumacher, former driver-turned-pundit, has provided his input on the relationship between the pair. He is quoted by Sportsweek.com saying, “From my point of view, it is clear that Verstappen’s side wants a new teammate. I hear these rumors everywhere.” Schumacher also asserted that this fight for the title is in response to Perez’s time approaching its climax at Red Bull.
Schumacher added, “I see it as a problem that Pérez knows his time at Red Bull Racing is coming to an end. He is fighting for his chance to play at the front, to win, to have a go at the title. That is why Sergio is now becoming more selfish, and as far as selfishness goes, Max Verstappen cannot complain. Max is doing very well, he is rightly the number one in the team, but he is also clearly marking his territory.”
The 47-year-old believes Max Verstappen’s side wants Sergio Perez out of the team. They do not want anyone to challenge their supremacy. With the title fight between the pair heating up, tension is flaring up. This battle will intensify if Perez stays consistent. The world could likely see Verstappen’s dominance finally challenged. It would make him work hard for the title, as he did when he narrowly edged out Lewis Hamilton back in 2021.
Can Sergio Perez finally defeat the dominant Max Verstappen?
The Mexican superstar Sergio Perez joined Red Bull in 2021. He was initially hired in the capacity of a wingman to the Bull’s prodigy and starlet, Max Verstappen. He successfully supported the Dutchman for two years. Perez played a crucial role in helping Verstappen get his maiden title in 2021.
Throughout the 2022 season, he continued to play this role, until tension grew in Brazil. The Dutchman disobeyed team orders which would assist Perez in his fight for P2. This came after Verstappen had already secured the title. This was seen as a turning point in their relationship.
Fast forward to 2023, Perez has made his title ambitions clear after having won half the races so far, the same as his teammate. He is no longer satisfied with being the second-best driver at Red Bull.
Perez has currently amassed 87 points and sits only six points behind his teammate. This is the smallest gap the pair have shared, ever since the inception of their partnership. They have been given the freedom to race each other and to decide the winner of the World Championship on track.
Perez has insisted that despite rumors of discord between them, there remains mutual respect. He has a proclivity for victory at street circuits, but there remain only five such races in the year.
Should he hope to maintain this title charge, as Christian Horner said, he must win on designer circuits too. Max Verstappen dominates these, so the Mexican’s hopes are hinged upon his consistency in delivering wins.
In case you missed it:
- “We cannot take it for granted,” Fernando Alonso wants to keep pushing Aston Martin beyond the reach of Mercedes and Ferrari
- “Never saw this coming” – Fans react as Daniel Ricciardo meets Anne Hathaway at the 2023 Met Gala in a surprising crossover
Stay Updated!
Tanuj Sadasivam
(245 Articles Published)