Perez pushed by Verstappen and the media

Ben Johnston
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Abu Dhabi December 2021

# 33 Max Verstappen (NED, Red Bull Racing), # 11 Sergio Perez (MEX, Red Bull Racing), F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit. Abu Dhabi December 2021

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez says that his first season with the team was very intense as he teamed up with Max Verstappen in 2021.

Perez joined Red Bull from Racing Point ahead of the 2021 season after losing his seat to Sebastian Vettel.

It took Perez time to find his feet at Red Bull but when he did, he really stepped up and feels that the pressure applied by Verstappen last season helped him, as did the media’s reaction to him joining the team.

Perez took one victory last season, winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku circuit.

The Mexican scored a total of 16 top-ten finishes over the course of the season and he feels that it was an intense year going up against Verstappen.

“[It was] very intense. It was extremely intense. A lot of work was done behind the scenes [and there was] a lot of pressure,” said Perez, as quoted by GPFans.

“When you are at Red Bull Racing, the pressure is on and everyone is watching you, what you do.

“[The media] is a lot harder to a Red Bull driver, which is understandable but yeah, it wasn’t easy but it brought me onto another level.

“Having Max as a team-mate, he really pushes you to new levels and makes you really happy.”

Perez was glad to be a part of Red Bull alongside Verstappen, who won his first Formula 1 World Championship last season.

He added: “Having Max as a team-mate, he really pushes you to new levels and makes you really happy.

“I am enjoying it a lot at this point of my career, I am really happy and that is most important.”

 

 

Perez will drive alongside Verstappen again in 2022 and will be hoping to improve on his P4 in the Drivers’ Championship last season.

Formula 1 introduces new regulations this season and Red Bull, who set up their own powertrain company following Honda’s exit from the sport at the end of last season, will be aiming to win back-to-back Drivers’ Championships while also attempting to win their first Constructors’ Championship since 2013.

Perez will be hoping that he can challenge for victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit, the scene of his maiden Formula 1 win in 2020, when the 2022 season gets underway from March 18-20.

 

PlanetF1 Verdict

 

Perez pushed by Verstappen and the media

Sergio Perez has revealed that he felt the pressure in his first year as a Red Bull driver.