F1 News
Mexican analysis: 'Why Perez is so important to Red Bulls' success'
- Ludo van Denderen
It was a big celebration in Japan. For the second time in succession, Red Bull Racing managed to secure the constructors' title. This was in large part thanks to Max Verstappen, who single-handedly took 400 points this season. Fellow Sergio Perez came to 223 accumulated points for now. Since Mercedes has 305 points, Red Bull would therefore lead the constructors' championship if Perez did not grab a single point in 2023.
Looking back at the constructors' championship, Esto, Mexico's leading sports medium, has listed how Perez made "a fundamental contribution" to Red Bull Racing's success. The website does so under the title: 'Why Checo Perez is so important to Red Bulls' success'.
No party without Perez
After a weekend in which Perez crashed out and thus took no points, Esto admits that Red Bull dominates the championship thanks to Max Verstappen. But: "There would have been no celebration at this point (in Japan, ed) without Perez," is indeed a fair conclusion. In that case, Red Bull would not have had enough points to secure the championship. Not yet, you are tempted to say, given the way Verstappen held house at the fast Suzuka circuit.
Esto additionally notes that Perez was essential in the record-setting series of 15 wins in a row in the 2023 season. The Mexican veteran won races in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan at the beginning of the season. Incidentally, Verstappen finished second in both races. So should Perez have crashed out on the last lap, the Dutchman would have taken the win and thus Red Bull would also have taken that record series.
Verstappen owes title partly to Perez
A third fact cited by Esto is that Red Bull Racing won at least one world title every year with Perez within its ranks. Esto particularly praises the way the Mexican held up Lewis Hamilton for laps in the all-decisive 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which earned Verstappen the drivers' title.
The website ends its analysis with the hope that Red Bull as well as Verstappen will do everything in the coming weeks to help Perez to the second spot in the world drivers' championship. It has never happened before that the Austrian team has the championship's number one and two drivers. Esto believes that could have happened as early as 2022, but that Verstappen and Red Bull "let Perez down" and "didn't help him".