Perez without a chance in Mexico? 'Never going to match Verstappen there'

Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde hopes Sergio Perez can find his rhythm at his home Grand Prix this weekend. The Mexican has to prove himself in front of his crowd, given Helmut Marko's recent comments about VCARB drivers having a shootout for his seat.

"It is not a super difficult track, but it is always slippery. You slide in all directions. You have to drive very cleanly. That thin air means you don't have as much grip, so you have to drive on eggshells a bit. That's what Max, and I think Lando Norris too, are both very good at. I really think it's going to be a battle, together with those Ferraris. That we're going to see the same four, five guys there battling for victory," the former F1 driver said in DRS: The Race Show.

While the home favourite is missing from the list above, Van der Garde hopes Perez can do better in Mexico City than the season before. Perez start from P5 on the grid, however, he crashed out after making contact with Charles Leclerc into Turn 1.

"I hope he will have a good run. Last year it was turn one crash, boom, gone," the Dutchman continued. However, he does believe he will be able to catch up to Verstappen this weekend.

"He's just having a tough time this year. He's not really getting ahead. I hope he can just compete for podium or top five here, because they do need him for the world championship. He's just never going to match Max here. No, never. Max is far too good here. This is a circuit that suits him well, he has always been fast," Van der Garde concluded.

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