Sergio Perez makes world championship 'MIRACLE' claim as pressure mounts

Verstappen and Perez in Abu Dhabi — Photo: © LAT Images

Sergio Perez

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Perez makes world championship 'MIRACLE' claim as pressure mounts

Max Verstappen is 99 points clear of Sergio Perez in the driver standings

Matthew Hobkinson Lead Editor

F1 Editor & Journalist

Tuesday 18 July 2023 22:42

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Sergio Perez has conceded that he will not be able to win the world championship this season, as he believes he is unable to catch Red Bull team-mate and runaway leader Max Verstappen.

After the first four races of the year, Perez and Verstappen shared two victories each in what looked set to be a two-horse race for the 2023 crown.

Adrian Newey's RB19 design looked set to pit the team-mates against one another, as the Mexican looked to stop Verstappen from winning his third championship in as many years.

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And although the final race of the season is not until the end of November, Perez has already admitted that his aim this season is to try and secure second-place.

Perez: I cannot catch Verstappen

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen have had very different experiences over course of the current F1 season

"In Formula 1, only your position in Abu Dhabi [the season finale] matters," he told AS.

"But I am not second in the world championship by a miracle, I have won races. I’ve had some bad races, but we have everything ahead of us.

"Target now? Undoubtedly the runner-up in the championship. But I’m only thinking about the Hungarian GP."

Heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, Verstappen currently holds a 99-point lead over Perez in the driver standings, while Red Bull themselves sit 208 points adrift of Mercedes in constructors' championship.