Sergio Perez knows he will need to be “perfect” this weekend in order to beat team mate Max Verstappen and win his home grand prix in Mexico.
Verstappen – who has already secured this year’s drivers’ championship – has taken 13 victories over the first 19 rounds, equalling the record of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel for most wins in a single season.Asked if he would consider allowing his team mate to win if the Red Bull drivers were first and second heading into the final laps of Sunday’s race in Mexico City, Verstappen said he was “here to win. At the end of the day, the fastest driver will win the race.”
Just two points separate Perez from Charles Leclerc, who lies second in the standings. Verstappen says he does not believe his team mate needs his assistance in order to beat the Ferrari driver.
“I think as long as he finishes ahead of Charles, that’s the main target every race,” said Verstappen.
“I don’t think he needs any advice. He knows very well what he’s doing. He’s super experienced. As a team, we just want to have a good weekend.”
Perez has won two races this season – the most he has taken in a single year in his career – but admits he dreams of a home triumph at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
“Of course I want to win this weekend,” he said. “This is my target. This is a target for everyone that is sitting here and that is coming to this weekend, also for Max. We are all very competitive and we all want to get the victory on Sunday, so we’re going to give it all we possibly can to achieve that.”
No Mexican driver has ever won their home race. Perez says he will require a “perfect” weekend to prevent his dominant champion team mate from taking his 14th win of the year.
“I’ve dreamt a few times already about it,” Perez said. “It would be massive for me.
“Obviously, that’s the target for Sunday. It will not be easy, we need to be perfect throughout the weekend. At the end of the day, it’s another weekend with the same amount of points – but it’s the most special one for me.”
Verstappen says he is not driven by the prospect of setting a new record for most wins in a season, but wants to win as many races as he can despite already securing the championship.
“I want to win every race we enter now this year,” he said. “Because of just the package we have, it’s looking really good.
“We have an opportunity to win more. For me, at the end of the day, I don’t really look at these stats. We’re just very happy with the season we are having.”
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2022 Mexican Grand Prix
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PMccarthy_is_a_legend (@pmccarthy_is_a_legend)
28th October 2022, 15:18
The only chance Checo has to win this weekend (or any other weekend for that matter) is if Max has some sort of problem. Let’s hope it is the case, it would be lovely for Checo to win at home!
BasCB (@bascb)
28th October 2022, 19:36
Yeah, I agree there @pmccarthy_is_a_legend. Max is not just going to give him a victory if he is in a position to win for himself – although here RBR might at least not make Perez make way for Max.
Would be great if Perez did win here though, he’s been doing pretty good at street tracks/tracks with barriers close to the track this year.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th October 2022, 8:36
Realistically speaking with drs and these long straights, they don’t have to give team orders, look at spa, verstappen was just so fast that he flew past, and even in baku there was some kind of “don’t fight him too hard” but unneeded at the speed he was closing in. Perez needs to be extremely fast to keep him behind.
RandomMallard
28th October 2022, 15:41
I would absolutely love to see Checo win this weekend, but I think it would be much sweeter if it’s an earned win and not one that’s handed to him by his teammate. Really hoping he can beat Max on pace for this!
t1redmonkey (@t1redmonkey)
28th October 2022, 16:00
I wonder if it’s Max P1, Checo P2 on the last lap, would Max deliberately slow down and let Checo pass him so he gets a home win?
elchinero (@elchinero)
28th October 2022, 17:13
Gifted a “win”? How would Perez feel, deep down inside? Sorta like Montiero at the 2005 USGP?
grapmg
28th October 2022, 18:45
Maybe he will slow down or it will be an additional pitstop for Max and fastest lap. But we have to see how the race will unfold. Perez and Max first must be in the position to take a 1-2. Who knows Checo is the fastest anyway and doesn’t need help. Must be a lot of pressure for Checo at the moment
f12007v (@f1fan-2000)
29th October 2022, 6:18
Aint happening. If max hits a problem its the 2 ferraris and 2 merc, then perez.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th October 2022, 8:37
If verstappen has a problem, there’s a good chance, red bull is the fastest car since a while now and even leclerc wasn’t able to overtake perez in singapore.