Max Verstappen hails Sergio Perez for showing "how it should be done" in F1 title fight with Mercedes

Max Verstappen in actie op het Baku City Circuit. — Photo: © LAT Images

Red Bull

Verstappen hails Perez for showing "how it should be done" in F1 title fight with Mercedes

Verstappen and Perez are first and third in drivers' standings

Ian Parkes

Tuesday 15 June 2021 12:44

Max Verstappen believes he has a team-mate in Sergio Perez that can finally help Red Bull in a two-car fight with Mercedes for the F1 titles.

For a period of time, Verstappen has fought a lone battle up front against Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, leaving Red Bull strategically vulnerable.

Following a settling-in period for Perez, the Mexican underlined why he was signed by Red Bull with his performance in the last grand prix in Azerbaijan where was in a position to mop up the win following Verstappen's tyre failure.

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"It’s great to have two cars up at the front fighting for the championship and also scoring the points," said Verstappen.

"Baku was a great example of that and how it should be done. It’s great that Checo was able to make the gap to Mercedes bigger in the constructors' championship and that he’s now third in the drivers' championship."

Verstappen expecting Mercedes bounce back at 'normal' tracks

Verstappen's blow at losing a certain win in Baku was softened by the mistake made by Lewis Hamilton at the restart that ensures the Dutch driver still holds a four-point cushion over the seven-time champion going into this weekend's race in France.

With the event at Paul Ricard the vanguard of the first triple-header of the season as two races in Austria follow, Verstappen is expecting a comeback from Mercedes and Hamilton after a haul of just seven points from the last two races.

Conceding to "feeling good", Verstappen added: "I'm sure that Mercedes will be very strong on the 'normal' tracks again, so we have to keep pushing and keep improving right to the very end because it’s never enough.

"So far the season has been pretty good to us but we need to remember that there are still a lot of races ahead.

"I am happy with the race results that we have had so far and that we are leading the championship, but we also have to be there leading it in Abu Dhabi. That’s all that matters."