Perez talks about pressure at Red Bull: 'Car made for Verstappen'

F1 News

24 February 2022 at 12:19
Last update 24 February 2022 at 13:50
  • GPblog.com

Sergio Perez will begin his second year at Red Bull Racing next season. The Mexican had highs, but also lows during his first season. He indicates that it is not easy to be the teammate of Max Verstappen.

Perez had to play an important role right away in his first season at Red Bull. The team was fighting for the world championship all season, so it was important to get the most out of the car. Perez needed time to get used to his new car and environment, but especially in the final stages of the season, he played a crucial role in Verstappen's world championship victory.

In conversation with Mundo Deportivo during the first test day in Barcelona, Perez is asked how he dealt with the pressure during his first season with the team. "I think ninety percent of the grid wouldn't last next to Verstappen. The car is completely made for him. His performance last year was impressive", replies the Mexican.

High pressure for Perez

The pressure was very high for Perez. After Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon did not perform well enough at Red Bull, the team opted for a driver outside the Red Bull program. Even though not every race weekend went optimally, Perez left a good impression. "I had difficult moments, weekend after weekend my teammate won. I had the full support of my team, but the pressure remained high." 

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