Perez already has a "good idea" of Red Bull strengths from simulator runs

Sergio Perez has said he already has a "good idea" of how good the Red Bull is after spending time in the simulator.

Perez will partner Max Verstappen after signing a one-year deal to replace Alex Albon at the end of last year. In his final year with Racing Point, the Mexican finished fourth in the drivers' championship.

Ahead of his first season with the team, Perez has explained some of the processes that need to be learned ahead of his first taste of track time.

"It's very different in a way that it's a new team, there are so many things that you have to learn, and it just takes a bit of time," he said.

"I will just get better and better in knowing the team more, understanding what I need. It just takes a bit of time, it's the process, putting all that work into pre-season. I've already spent a good amount of time with my new engineers. That's a key to try to speed up the process.

"I've done a couple of days in the sim already. I have a good idea as to what the Red Bull car is like, so the car is already in the back of my head. But we are in that time where nothing comes easy. You have to really learn and work to get up to speed with the car. It's getting there."

Pre-season testing has been cut to just three days for this season, the schedule being cut by half compared to last year.

With three rookie drivers in the field, four drivers moving teams and Fernando Alonso returning, Perez believes it will be interesting to see which drivers adapt quickest to their new machinery.

"It's going to be very limited testing this year, with only a day and a half on the car," he added. "It's very little. It is what it is. It's the same for everybody. There are a lot of drivers with new teams, and it will be nice to see who adapts the fastest to their new team.

On Bahrain becoming the location for the pre-season test and season-opening race, Perez said: "I think it's not a bad thing, especially given how cold it can be in Europe at the time.

"I think it's a good reference. It will help me get up to speed a bit more because we will do the test and then we will do the race there.

"I don't think it changes much but it's another part of the process that can make it a bit easier probably."

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