Perez: 'Relationship with Verstappen has improved this season'
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
In sealing second place in the drivers' championship, Sergio Perez did what he had to do: Give Red Bull Racing the first one-two in history. Mission accomplished, although the difference with Max Verstappen was huge. However, there is certainly no question of envy.
"I think our relationship is really good," Perez told GPblog and others. "I think the whole engineering [process] when we are in all those briefings, through so many races, I think it's been good. We've been pushing at times in different directions. But at the same time we've been strongly asking for the same stuff so that also has been positive for the team. I think it's been a lot better [this season]. I think it's always been good, this is our third season together so it's been a good one.
'Verstappen was on a different level'
Perez had a year of ups and downs, while Verstappen always performed at top level. That creates admiration for the Mexican: "I think it's how he's been dealing with it has been really impressive. I think he has done a tremendous job. He's been really on another level. I think it's great to see obviously. We've all liked to be in his position. But there's only one champion per year."
Although Perez is very seasoned, he says he will learn a lot from Verstappen: "I have the best reference out there because he was the one who was so competitive. So I think there's no harm in that. I think it's important to look at what he's doing, how he's doing it and try to learn and improve. See what works for you, that he's doing differently to you. I think I've always had a very open approach and I think it's something that works well."