Red Bull Content Pool

General

Why Perez does not want to play the same role as Vandoorne at Mercedes

Why Perez does not want to play the same role as Vandoorne at Mercedes

04-12-2020 09:52 Last update: 13:09
4

GPblog.com

For Sergio Perez it is clear; it will be either Red Bull Racing or nothing in 2021. The Mexican doesn't like the role of reserve driver like Stoffel Vandoorne at Mercedes at all. The current Racing Point driver says he doesn't want to travel around the world without being allowed to get into an F1 car.

"It is not my priority. I think we are not going to look at it until it becomes a serious option, how we can make it work. I don't want to go to all the races when I'm not driving. It's a difficult choice because the team needs the reserve driver on site. So I'm probably not the right person," Perez said at the press conference, which included Motorsport.com.

The 30-year-old driver still thinks he's too young to sit on the side and watch. "We'll see. I think in the next two weeks more will become clear about my future. I have to decide for myself what I want to do best in 2021. At this point in my career I want to drive. And if I don't drive, it's hard to attend races without racing."

Fourth place under pressure

Last week Perez missed out on a podium finish in Bahrain after his Mercedes engine broke down. Perez does not think that missing that podium place will have a negative impact on his chances of becoming Max Verstappen's teammate next year. "Speed is important. I have been here for ten years. In all those years I have delivered. People know what I can and cannot do. I don't think one race will change that."