For Perez, the Monaco Grand Prix is "extremely important"

Sergio Perez has given himself five races to get comfortable with the car and get through the learning process. The upcoming Grand Prix is the fifth of the season, after which Perez says he should be able to keep up with Verstappen at a decent level. Monaco is a special challenge, however, which puts even more pressure on the shoulders of the Mexican. Something he realizes all too well.

Extremely important

In conversation with Motorsport-Total, the Mexican driver says: "In Monaco, you need to have confidence in your car. If I can build that up over the weekend and become one with the car then that will be very good for the rest of the season. Because if you have the confidence in Monaco, you can have it everywhere. So for me, this is an extremely important weekend."

The race did not go well for Perez in Spain and he has also performed somewhat shakily to date. At least that is the public opinion, Perez clearly looks at it differently. For example, he continues, "If we leave out the race [Spain, ed], there are a lot of positives and progress to note." That gives Perez a solid foundation to sail on.

Perez follows Verstappen

Considering the driver barely had time to get used to the car before the season, it makes sense that he needs some time. Each free practice session is therefore of great importance and in terms of set-up of the car, he follows Verstappen, because that is a set-up that works. As such, Perez also sees no reason to deviate from that.

"You have to be there fully in practice and you don't really have time for big set-up changes. We go into Sunday pretty blind. It doesn't make sense then to go a different route. Max has shown that his direction works." It's now up to Perez to show his best at Monte Carlo and gain the confidence in the car that he's been searching for. If that all works out, it will create a favourable omen for the rest of the season.