What will Sergio Perez develop into this season: a Rosberg or a Bottas? thomasmaheronf1 assesses Checo's World title credentials... F1
Listening back to team radio shows Red Bull were eager to keep their drivers circulating at the same pace, with Perez already having the fastest lap point, only for Verstappen to take matters into his own hands and build up to take the fastest lap point away on the final lap.
One only has to turn the clock back seven years to see how a teammate battle can lead from tensions to outright warfare. Coming off the back of two consecutive title wins, and his third in total, Lewis Hamilton went into 2016 as title favourite after easily having the measure of Nico Rosberg in 2015.
It led Mercedes to hire a very different character for 2017 in Valtteri Bottas, putting the likable and calm Finn into a position of subservience by offering one-year deals while Hamilton took title after title.
Lukewarm congratulations and potshots such as Perez “not getting the chance to win that often” only serve to showcase the uneasiness the Verstappen camp feel about the even-handed treatment Perez was given in Saudi Arabia. It’s perhaps for this reason that Red Bull opted against reigning Perez in for Verstappen in Saudi Arabia.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Can Sergio Perez emulate Nico Rosberg’s 2016 season in 2023?FormulaNerds.com — Features — The F1 season is a mere two races old, but it’s already evident that Max Verstappen’s closest and only rival for the title will be his teammate, Sergio Perez.
Read more »
'Christian Horner has his work cut out managing Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez'Christian Horner will 'have his work cut out' to manage Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in F12023, predicts Sky F1's Natalie Pinkham.
Read more »
‘Team Verstappen were perhaps surprised that Sergio Perez could match their pace’Martin Brundle believes those in Max Verstappen's corner may have been surprised that Sergio Perez was able to hold him off on Sunday.
Read more »
Damon Hill backs Sergio Perez to withstand Max Verstappen pressure at Red Bull'It's a question of how much pressure he can put on to make sure his championship aspirations are not hampered by Checo...' F1 RedBullRacing MaxVerstappen SergioPerez
Read more »
Hill: Perez "won't go down without a fight" in F1 title battleDamon Hill thinks Sergio Perez 'won't go down without a fight' against Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen after winning his first Formula 1 race of the season in Saudi Arabia.
Read more »
Hill: Perez "won't go down without a fight" in F1 title battleDamon Hill thinks Sergio Perez 'won't go down without a fight' against Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen after winning his first Formula 1 race of the season in Saudi Arabia.
Read more »