Perez at Red Bull: "It's like I've changed racing series"

One win and a third place - those are the highlights of Sergio Perez's first half of the season so far. The Mexican has done well to finish fifth in the championship in his first season with Red Bull Racing, but expectations were perhaps a little higher.

Difficult to get a grip on

Perez still has a shot at third place in the championship. The Mexican is just nine points behind Lando Norris and four points behind Valtteri Bottas. However, Max Verstappen's teammate must admit that he does not always have an easy time in the Red Bull. "It differs from circuit to circuit, " he told Motorsport-Total.com. "On some circuits I have certain problems, on other circuits it's different."

He still thinks he needs to gain more experience with the car. "Also in different conditions," Perez said. "But we all know it's not an easy car to get a grip on." With this he is probably also referring to the problems his predecessors Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon had with the Red Bull.

Red Bull another world

The reason the Red Bull is so difficult for many drivers, according to Perez, is because it is a different world compared to cars he drove before. "It's like I've changed racing series," explained Perez. "It's a very different car, a very different philosophy with the high-rake concept. So I still have a lot to learn and discover in the car. But with the limited time and the different conditions in each session, it's difficult to explore the car."

Noticeable progress

Despite the problems Perez is experiencing with the Red Bull, the progress is noticeable. "I feel I am exploring and understanding the car more and more. At least now I can already send the team in certain directions when it comes to what I want to feel during the weekend. I think it will only get better with time."

It is important for Perez to be in good shape in Belgium and the Netherlands, as there are plenty of other drivers vying for his seat at the Austrian top team. The high-performing Gasly in particular is all too keen to return to the main team.