Hakkinen critical of Perez: 'He should have matched Verstappen'

The gap between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez has been very large over the past few years. For years, the Dutchman was the dominant driver, while his teammate still lagged behind. Mika Hakkinen therefore criticises the Mexican in conversation with Unibet International.

In the past two seasons, Perez finished third and second in the drivers' championship. However, that does not show how big the gap with Verstappen was at times. Whereas the Dutchman won as many as 19 times in 2023, Perez only did so twice. This season, out of the top four teams' drivers, Perez is also the only one yet to win a Grand Prix.

Two-time F1 champion Hakkinen stated that he does not like criticising a driver, but: "Two drivers are naturally competing each other before they start competing others. And this case, the gap between Max and Sergio has been increasing constantly. And what that means is you don't get the data, you don't get the information from both cars to able to develop the car as quick as what is required."

The Finn continued: "Sergio Perez has not been able the deliver this for the Red Bull team. And it has been influencing the success. This has been a very negative thing. He has been there a long time. He had the chance to study himself, to understand himself, what does he need to be the number one. And he has failed to do that."

"And I don't want to say that way, he doesn’t have the talent to thrive. I think all the other parameters has not been able to support Sergio to come to a level where he needs to be to match Max Verstappen, and deliver what the team is requiring him, to do to able to build a winning team," the former McLaren driver concluded.

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