Marko predicts tough time for Perez will continue: 'That makes it harder'
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Sergio Perez is having a difficult phase in Formula 1. The Mexican has scored just five points in the past three races, which is not much with a dominant car like the RB19. The battle for second place in the championship between Lewis Hamilton and the Red Bull driver is getting more and more tense due to Perez's current performance. According to Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko, Perez should stop looking at Verstappen.
Hamilton creeps ever closer to Perez
In Qatar, Hamilton narrowed the gap with Perez in the drivers' championship for the third weekend in a row. In Singapore, it was by 12 points, in Japan by 10 points and at the last Grand Prix weekend, it was by just three points. However, according to Marko, that was mainly because the seven-time world champion eliminated himself in Sunday's Grand Prix in Qatar.
"The fear [of second place in the world championship] is actually very concrete. Without the crash, Hamilton would have made up another 10, 15 points," Marko told OE24. The gap between Hamilton and Perez is now 30 points, and with five Grands Prix to go in 2023, that certainly seems bridgeable for the Mercedes driver.
Red Bull helps Perez in battle with Hamilton
Horner said after the Qatar race that now that both championships have already been won, the best achievable after that is also second place in the drivers' championship. The Austrian team has never before managed to book a one-two in this championship. Marko says Red Bull is trying to help Perez with that: "Checo just has to do his best without looking at Verstappen. We are trying to help him with that. There is no criticism from the team, just help. Maybe it will work," the Austrian commented.
The fact that Perez is underperforming in the RB19 is not a huge problem right now, as the titles were still easily secured. However, Horner also knows that should the field be closer together in 2024, both drivers will need a top performance to become champions. Perez has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2024, and Marko recently revealed that the Austrian constructor wants to continue respecting that contract.
Marko predicts more tough weekends for Perez
The upcoming races on the F1 calendar could also be tricky for Perez, according to Marko. First comes a sprint weekend in the United States, followed by the GP of Mexico. "That won't make things easier for him. Moreover, a sprint race in the US is exactly what he doesn't need right now. That makes it even harder for him because he always needs time to get up to speed. I hope Austin comes good midway [the weekend], then I'm sure it will work again in Mexico," Marko concludes.