Sergio Perez faces mental grind against Max Verstappen's dominance at Red Bull

The 2023 season witnessed Verstappen's spectacular performance, clinching victory in 17 out of the final 18 races, accumulating a record-breaking 575 championship points.

Despite a strong start to the season, Perez struggled to maintain his momentum, concluding the year with 285 points. This marked his first-time runner-up finish in his career, sparking doubts about his future at Red Bull.

Horner, shedding light on Perez's predicament, emphasized the mental fortitude required to compete with the three-time World Champion Verstappen. "I think with the amount of established team-mates [he's had], it is probably the hardest job in the pit-lane," Horner stated during a media briefing. He highlighted Verstappen's relentless performance at an exceptionally high level, making it a formidable challenge for any driver.

"In Miami, where Checo had an open goal, he'd won two races in Azerbaijan and in Saudi, and you could see his confidence was high," Horner reflected. However, a turning point occurred when Verstappen triumphed in Miami, overcoming challenges after a red flag in qualifying. This victory, coupled with Perez's crash in Monaco qualifying, added to the mental strain on the Mexican driver.

Looking ahead to the future, Perez's contract with Red Bull expires at the end of 2024. Horner underscored the importance of mental strength in a sportsman, especially when facing the relentless performance of a teammate like Verstappen.

As the 2023 F1 season concludes and teams gear up for the upcoming year, the anticipation builds for the 2024 season, commencing with official pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 23-25, 2024. The break allows teams and drivers to recharge before the new challenges of the upcoming season unfold.

 

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