Disgruntled Perez camp: ''It's definitely not just down to the car''

According to David Coulthard, it is too short of the mark to say that Red Bull has developed the car specifically for Max Verstappen. According to the Scot, the gap between Verstappen and Sergio Perez is simply too big for that.

Perez started the 2022 Formula 1 season strongly. The Mexican finished second in Australia, Spain and Emilia Romagna and then even managed to win in Monaco. This kept him in the fight for the world title for a long time, but halfway through the season he lost momentum. Thus, between the French and Italian GPs, he finished only once on the podium, where Verstappen won five races in a row.

Dissatisfaction in the Perez camp

Yet the Perez camp seemed to have a different opinion. For instance, Antonio Perez Garibay, the father of Perez, let slip after the Brazilian Grand Prix. ''Max is already feeling the hot breath of Checo in his helmet today. He has never had an equal partner, the others were much more inferior. Checo wins the races Max does not win, the really difficult ones.''

Perez's camp has also repeatedly stated that the development of the car was more in Verstappen's direction. Coulthard, however, cannot agree. ''It is absolutely not just down to the car. You can see that very well in the comparison between Max and Checo. Just look at what Checo has done this year and what Max has shown. There is quite a difference in that, whether people like Max or not,'' said Coulthard at Motorsport.com.

In 2023, Perez himself hopes to compete for the world title again and we will see to what extent the events from Brazil have really been resolved. In the background, Daniel Ricciardo will also be watching this duel. He will be only too happy to take over Checo's seat from 1 January 2024.