'That's why Verstappen gets paid the big bucks'

Paul di Resta holds a slightly different opinion than Mika Hakkinen. The Finnish driver indicated that Max Verstappen would have owed his victory in Azerbaijan to his teammate Sergio Perez. Di Resta, however, argues that it was really the 24-year-old Dutchman's own merit.

Verstappen unapproachable

"Nobody has been able to match him today (Sunday)," Di Resta said to Sky Sports. The former Formula 1 driver noted that Perez actually had the upper hand all weekend, but at the moment suprême he still had to concede more than twenty seconds to the leader in the world championship.

The analyst for the British television channel sees that as "the difference". "That's why he gets paid the big bucks and that's why he was world champion last year and that's why people fear racing him." That Verstappen has been the dominant force in Formula 1 for the time being this season is evidenced by his five wins.

Perez faster than in 2021

Yet, Di Resta has mostly praised Perez's performance. "Checo is a different person this year. He's absolutely up for the fight and he should go away very satisfied. When you think he's finished first and second in the last two GPs, and he's now second in the championship, he's Max's biggest challenger at the moment. It's a headache for Red Bull at some point, but at the same time, he's in this." he concludes.

The RB18 is a lot more suited to Perez than the RB16B. Thanks to the rule changes, the Red Bull car has become a lot more stable at the back, whereas last year it was quite loose. The fact that the car was already almost fully developed when the Mexican came over from Racing Point didn't also help him.