Sergio Perez pinpoints Max Verstappen’s ‘biggest step’ in securing 2024 F1 title

Sergio Perez revealed the pivotal reason behind Max Verstappen's successful title defense against Lando Norris in 2024.

Sergio Perez pinpoints Max Verstappen’s ‘biggest step’ in securing 2024 F1 title

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (via Red Bull)

Max Verstappen faced a stiff challenge from Lando Norris for the 2024 F1 world title. The Dutch driver made an impressive recovery to defend the championship in the final leg of the season. Now, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez has revealed one big change made by the 27-year-old this year.

Checo insisted that talent and speed were never a problem for Max Verstappen. The reigning world champion’s raw pace had led to Red Bull overlooking its development mistakes last season. However, Verstappen was in a difficult situation as he failed to win a race for four months.

His [Max Verstappen] talent and his speed has been there since day one.

Sergio Perez said, as reported by RacingNews365
YouTube video

Sergio Perez reckoned that once out of the car, Verstappen would work with his engineers and read races. The Dutch driver would push the team to go further in the next round. Perez labeled this as the biggest step made by the 27-year-old in a bid to secure his fourth consecutive F1 championship.

FS Video

Out of the car, how he reads the races, how he works with the team, how he pushes the team, I think is the biggest step he has done in these past years.

Sergio Perez stated

Sergio Perez applauds Max Verstappen’s incredible 2024 season

Max Verstappen has dominated Formula 1 since the start of the ground-effect era in 2022. The Dutch driver created history with a record-breaking campaign last season. Yet, Sergio Perez emphasized that Verstappen’s best performance came this season as the 27-year-old defied all odds and outperformed Lando Norris.

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen (via RaceFans)
Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen (via RaceFans)

Max has done his best season I’ve seen from him in these four years.

Sergio Perez noted

Certainly, Perez recognizes the effort put in by Verstappen. The Mexican driver shares a cordial relationship with the 27-year-old. Max Verstappen has even defended Checo amidst rumors of the 34-year-old getting sacked. However, it remains to be seen if Sergio Perez stays on the team next season.