Marko resolute: 'Perez has to perform, he needs to improve his qualifying'

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is very clear about the situation Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez is currently in. The Mexican is second in the world championship behind Max Verstappen but is often criticised for not driving qualifying well enough. This often causes him to have to play catch-up during the race on Sunday.

Marko is therefore very clear towards Verstappen's teammate. "Perez has to perform. He needs to improve his qualifying, but for the current year, everything is clear. What's next year, we'll see," he told Sky Sports' German branch after the first two free practice sessions ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

For Perez himself, Friday was not exactly ideal, as the F1 driver was not in the top three timesheets in both practice sessions. In the first free practice, Perez finished in fourth place, and in the second free practice, the Mexican landed in seventh place.