Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has proved that he has got what it takes to win races. Ever since he joined the team, he was always regarded as the second driver to the current champion Max Verstappen. The Dutchman has not appreciated the Mexican enough to help him become the driver’s and constructor’s title winner. Visibly, Verstappen has always been a bit flashy when it comes to what the team wants.
In 2022, Checo played a very crucial role in helping Red Bull win the constructor’s title. Mercedes had utter dominance in the constructor’s championship till 2021. But it is Red Bull now all the way. Max Verstappen has indeed won all these titles since the 2021 driver’s title. But Checo has always been a little bit underrated.
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It looks like Verstappen quite willingly overshadowed Checo with every chance he got. However, the Mexican-born is showing his true class in this ongoing season. At first, he came second in the Bahrain Grand Prix. The current double-time champion dominated the opening race of this season as well. But as a team, it was a thumping victory for Red Bull. The Milton Keynes team has got the best car on the grid in the current cost-cap era. In the second race, Christian Horner‘s team continued their hegemony in Jeddah as well.
Albeit, this time, it was Sergio Perez who came to the limelight after he won the Saudia Arabian Grand Prix. He should have had the same points as his teammate has got. But in the final lap, Max Verstappen accelerated to get from the P15 to the P2 place. Eventually got the fastest lap time and, as a result, won an extra point. Hence, the current standing sees Max leading the chart ahead of Checo by a single point.
Sergio Perez Must Not Feel Like A Second Driver Anymore
There was utter confusion in the Red Bull camp as after the race, Sergio Perez mentioned that the team told him that he had the fastest lap time, and he thought Max was told the same. But apparently, Verstappen did not care what his team wanted him to do. Instead, as a disobedient driver, he increased his pace and snatched the fastest lap time. Sure, after this, no driver in Checo’s place would like to help Max again in gaining the driver’s or constructor’s titles.
Sergio Perez certainly looks to win the season and does not look at himself as a second driver in the Red Bull team. Whatever happens, Checo won that race for good. According to Timo Glock, Verstappen should also forget about asking Perez for any help regarding the GPs and the season, for that matter. Perez can even give Horner the ultimatum to quit if he is asked again to play a supportive role to Max Verstappen. Checo must realize his true potential and dream of becoming the world champion. And that is possible to do that with the best car on the grid. Now, Verstappen has a good challenge for the titles, and the threat is in his team itself.