Perez's father claims his son 'could've been champion several times by now'

Sergio Perez was unable to hold off a strong Max Verstappen at the Miami Grand Prix. Only five times in which both Verstappen and Perez saw the finishing flag, the Mexican managed to finish ahead of the reigning champion in a Grand Prix.

Perez, now in his third season for Red Bull Racing, is not generally seen as a talent like Verstappen, Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton. However, in Mexico, where Perez has become the sport's biggest star, he is credited with similar qualities. His father, Antonio Perez Garibay is convinced that with better material, his son would have shown he was among the world's best for years.

The number two the first loser

Indeed, he told sports website Esto: "Every morning he knows that he is in a team that is in first place and that the number two is the first loser," Perez sr. told the Mexican medium. "Before, when he finished 10th, it was great. But if Checo had had this chance from the start, like other young drivers, he would have been world champion several times. I have no doubt about that. And I think we have Checo Pérez for the next 10 years and I see him as a world champion."

The proud father - who is a leading politician in Mexico - reports that the Red Bull driver has ensured that he is also looked at differently. "The Saturday before Azerbaijan, I fell asleep as the father of Checo Perez and on Monday I woke up as the father of the 'King of the Street'. That's the big difference," he reports.

Earlier, Perez senior indicated that the difference between Sergio and Max Verstappen is extremely small. He indicated that it is 'about thousandths' and on the 'difficult circuits' there is nothing between the two drivers.