'Perez is performing well, but the problem is that Verstappen is driving next to him'
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- GPblog.com
Former racing driver and manager of Sergio Perez, Adrian Fernandez, thinks Perez needs to make big strides to fulfil his dream of a Formula 1 world title. He does not think so much that his compatriot is performing poorly, but sees another problem: Max Verstappen.
According to Fernandez, who was Perez's manager for two years, there are definitely opportunities for the Mexican. At the same time, he faces a huge challenge, because to fulfil his title ambitions, he will first have to beat his teammate and that is easier said than done.
The former IndyCar driver certainly does not think Perez is underperforming, as some have suggested. "Checo is performing well. The problem is just that Verstappen is driving next to him," he told Motorsport.com. According to Fernandez, the issue for his compatriot now is to find out what his teammate is doing differently from him.
Perez needs to step up a gear
Perez started the 2022 F1 season well, but the developments introduced by Red Bull Racing during the year did not make things easier for him. "Max has obviously been driving for Red Bull for a bit longer and the team is completely built around him," Fernandez continued. Taking that into account, he believes Perez is certainly not doing badly and, moreover, he is doing exactly what his team is asking of him.
However, to fulfil his dream of a world title, Perez will have to step up his game, his former manager judges. In addition, it will be crucial for Red Bull to have two drivers who can compete at the front, as competition from Ferrari and Mercedes is expected to be stronger in the coming season.