Formula 1

Perez: '90 per cent of drivers would sink next to Verstappen' at Red Bull

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Sergio Perez has defended his performance suggesting "90 per cent" of Formula 1 drivers would "sink" alongside Max Verstappen.

After two wins in the first four races, the Mexican has struggled for results in 2023, failing to make Q3 at five straight races between Monaco and Silverstone and falling a massive 125 points behind his Red Bull teammate in the championship.

Perez has blamed his drop in performance on his Q1 crash in Monaco denting his confidence in the RB19, something he has only recently begun to resolve.

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But Checo also believes few would stand much of a chance up against the imperious form of the reigning F1 champion.

“90% of the drivers would sink next to Verstappen,” he told Spain's Mundo Deportivo.

“I’m not saying none, but few drivers on the current grid could beat Verstappen with the same car.

“People sitting on sofas watching the race underestimate how sensitive drivers are to settings.

"There are cars that make it easier for you, there are moments in the season when you are more comfortable with the car and it starts to get out of hand, you have to compensate a lot for handling and it doesn’t come so naturally to you.

“And in the end, you start to see very small differences that become very big, but I am calm because I am giving the best of me."

But with Verstappen comfortably winning the last eight races in a row, big questions are being asked about Perez's future at Red Bull.

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And the Mexican admits the team's reputation for unceremoniously dumping drivers adds an extra layer of pressure.

“If you are not mentally strong, you can’t be at Red Bull. You should not underestimate the level of pressure you are under here," he declared.

“Red Bull is a team where if you have a bad session you have five drivers in your sights. It’s constant pressure from the press.

"In these three years, I have never seen this in any other team before. With Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes, you name the team, all their drivers have had bad moments, but it’s OK.

"It’s not like Red Bull, you have a bad moment and you have to leave the team.”

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