Sergio Perez claims he’ll never ask Max Verstappen to let him win the Mexican GP, says he wants to ‘achieve it on merit’

Sergio Perez has not been able to match the raw pace of Max Verstappen this year.

Sergio Perez claims he’ll never ask Max Verstappen to let him win the Mexican GP, says he wants to ‘achieve it on merit’

Max verstappen, Sergio Perez and Christian Horner (Via IMAGO)

Sergio Perez, the Red Bull F1 driver, has much experience regarding the pinnacle of motor racing. He has been struggling immensely during the ongoing 2023 F1 season, and amidst the criticism that he has come under, Perez has made it quite clear that he will never ask his teammate, Max Verstappen, to let him secure a win in his home race, the Mexican GP.

Perez has been with Red Bull since 2021 and has, on most occasions, proved second-best to his world-class teammate. While his dream of becoming an F1 World Champion is still very much alive in his heart, his one other wish is also to secure a Grand Prix win in front of his fans at the famous Mexican GP. He managed a P3 finish last year, and ahead of this year’s event, he’s really looking forward to it.

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While talking about the same and the idea of asking Verstappen to let him secure the win in case an opportunity arises, he told De Limburger, “After becoming world champion, it’s my biggest dream: a victory in Mexico means everything to me. It’s an exhausting battle every year, with the home race and the GP in Austin just a week earlier.“

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“There’s a lot that comes my way during those races, but as soon as the visor comes down, my focus is on racing. I’ll do everything to win in Mexico. Will I ask Verstappen to let me win? No — Otherwise, that victory would mean nothing to me. I want to achieve it on my own merit.” Perez has made it crystal clear that he would want to win his home race on the back of his might rather than ask someone else for a favor.

Discover: Sergio Perez reveals ‘the most special thing about’ Max Verstappen

Sergio Perez needs to sort out his act at Red Bull

While Sergio Perez has no interest in receiving any handouts at the 2023 Mexican GP, he is in desperate need to sort out his act on the Red Bull F1 team as soon as possible. The 33-year-old has been horrendous behind the wheel of the RB19 this year, and as the season has progressed, he has fallen backward continuously in comparison to Max Verstappen.

Sergio Perez (Credits: Sportsrush)
Sergio Perez (Credits: Sportsrush)

Only six races remain in the season, and it is important for Perez to get out of his rut and start putting in consistent performances. In case he is not able to do so, he could lose out of the second place in the Drivers Championship to the in-form Lewis Hamilton. The gap between the duo is not huge, and the Mexicans can’t afford any more slip-ups.

Moreover, if Sergio Perez cannot end the ongoing campaign in the second position, it would tempt Red Bull to show him the exit door by cutting his contract by one year. His current deal with the team runs until the end of 2024, but considering everything, there are no guarantees whether Perez would be a Red Bull driver next year.

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