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sergio perez on feeling the pressure before monaco grand prix 2024

Is Perez starting to feel the pressure? "I know I need to do better"

22 May at 13:13
7
  • Olly Darcy
  • Editor

It was a lacklustre performance for Sergio Perez at the Emila Romagna Grand Prix last weekend. While his teammate Max Verstappen earned pole position and took his RB20 to victory, Perez was eliminated from qualifying in Q2, finishing in a lowly P11 as the chequered flag dropped. The Mexican could only move up three places in the race to finish P8, highlighting a disappointing weekend. Now, coming into the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, there is added pressure on the 34-year-old going into one of the trickiest races on the calendar.

After that eighth place around Imola last time out, meaning Perez moved from second place in the drivers' standings, overtaken by Ferraris Charles Leclerc. The Mexican knows that P8 is not where the great RB20 should be finishing. "We have an entire factory ensuring we make the most of a very quick car and put it where it belongs, which is always on the podium," Perez said.

Pressure on in Monaco

Now, coming into the complex Circuit de Monaco, Perez knows that there is pressure on him to get a podium this weekend. "The pressure to deliver comes on Saturday in Monaco, because overtaking is nearly impossible on Sunday, and I know I need to do better following a tricky weekend in Italy. Nothing came together in Imola, and we have been working hard to understand that. I want to get the momentum back and we know if we get it right, we can deliver a strong performance this weekend."

However, the Mexican is a Grand Prix winner in the Principality, so he knows what needs to be done to right his wrongs from last weekend: "Monaco is always one of the standout races in the calendar, and I am lucky enough to be a Monaco race winner, which is very special to me. Sometimes it looks like racing comes second here because the event and everything surrounding the race is so big. But, we always come here focused, and the Team ensure we can concentrate on what is important and that is extracting everything from the car.