Max Verstappen Sergio Perez
2PWER84 VERSTAPPEN Max (ned), Red Bull Racing RB19, portrait PEREZ Sergio (mex), Red Bull Racing RB19, portrait press conference during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023, 4th round of the 2023 Formula One World Championship from April 28 to 30, 2023 on the Baku City Circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan – Photo Xavi Bonilla/DPPI Credit: DPPI Media/Alamy Live News

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is leading all the way to win his third consecutive Formula One championship this year. He is going to help his team win back-to-back titles. On the other hand, his teammate Sergio Perez is fading away after showing a lot of promise at the start of the season. Checo gave the fans hope of an exciting competition between the two Red Bull drivers. Everybody knows that the Austrian team is way ahead of the rest. No other team or driver holds any chance to provide a threat to them on their way to winning the season. But if there is only one driver and one team racing at the fag end to win the title, it just gets boring for the fans.

Hence, they need exciting competition or rivalry to make the sport more enjoyable. Be it an internal rivalry or between two different teams. For instance, in 2021, the viewership ratings of the F1 season were skyrocketing due to the competition between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. But since then, it is only the Dutchman who is dominating the grid. However, at the start of the season, Max won two, and Perez won two Grands Prix. Hence, the crowd was eagerly waiting to see the Mexican putting some severe pressure on Verstappen in the following Grands Prix races. But Checo lost his way somehow. Since then, Max has won three more races, and Sergio Perez is getting worse and worse. And while asking about his teammate’s situation, the Dutchman revealed that he is not sure what is going on in Checo’s head right now.

   

Max Verstappen Does Not Know What To Tell Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez Max Verstappen Red Bull Source: CNN

Sergio Perez has not been able to get a podium for a long time now. Fans expected him to do well in the Monaco Grand Prix, as it is a street-style circuit. But he could not even get a podium finish there. Instead, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Esteban Ocon of Alpine got second and third-place finishes, respectively, behind Max Verstappen. After the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull chief Christian Horner mentioned that Checo should drive fearlessly because he has nothing to lose now, as Max is way ahead of him. But Perez does not agree with his boss’ comments, saying that the pressure is still on him. He feels that he has to give his best every time on the race track because that is the only thing he is sure of. Hence, “the pressure is never off,” says Sergio Perez.

On the other hand, Max Verstappen feels that it is difficult for him to give any advice to his teammate. He can only tell Perez to focus on his performance. According to Max, it is a problem to give an opinion because he does not know what is going on in the head of his teammate. But the only thing Max says he would do if he were in Checo’s position is do the best he can possibly do. Everything else is irrelevant because nobody has any control over everything else. Recently, in the practice sessions of the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday, Red Bull surprisingly saw some tough times. Sergio Perez finished at P4 and P8 in FP1 & FP2, respectively. On the other hand, Max Verstappen finished at P5 & P6, respectively.

Max Lives In The Fast Lane

Max Verstappen Sergio Perez Red Bull
Max Verstappen Sergio Perez Red Bull Source: Sky Sports

It is a non-said that Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is on his way to breaking some of the biggest records set by only the Formula One legends. Be it the maximum race wins in a season or securing Grand slams, or world titles, the Dutchman is smoothly leading his way to those records without even thing about them.

In a recent interview with Forbes, Verstappen mentioned that he has no time to think about records and accolades as he enjoys every moment and lives in the present. One can say that he literally lives in the fast lane. Apparently, Verstappen gives credit to time as it flies away pretty fast. According to him, records and accolades will come and sometimes won’t, but the precious time we are living right now may change and never return again. Hence, it is essential to enjoy every second.