Button assesses Red Bull continuity in Verstappen era

Verstappen, perez, sainz, monaco — Photo: © LAT Images

Red Bull

Button assesses Red Bull continuity in Verstappen era

Verstappen has had four different team-mates at Red Bull

Sam Hall

Monday 6 June 2022 08:00

Jenson Button has hailed the importance of Sergio Perez's new Red Bull deal, with the team set to enjoy a period of stability for the first time in almost a decade.

Since Mark Webber retired from F1 and ended a five-year partnership alongside Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull has cycled through six different driver pairings.

By the time Perez's new two-year deal has expired, the Mexican and Verstappen will have raced side by side for four years, providing the team with a firm foundation on which to build.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the 2009 F1 champion Button said: "It's great that he's staying there.

"It's great for that team to have a bit of continuity as well with the second driver, or the driver alongside Max.

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"We haven't seen that at Red Bull while Max has been there so it's good for Max, it's great for Checo and this is just building his confidence - signing a new deal and winning in Monaco.

"I think everyone loves Checo. I was team-mates with Checo in 2013 so I know his pace, his passion and his love for this sport, and it's really nice to see him get that victory."

Ferrari 'thought too much' in Monaco defeat

Perez's new contract was announced two days after his Monaco Grand Prix triumph in which he took full advantage of Ferrari mistakes to clinch his third career win in F1.

Ferrari let slip a one-two grid start that resulted in home hero and polesitter Charles Leclerc missing out on the podium by finishing fourth.

Button feels Ferrari was too slow to react to the changing conditions and how rivals Red Bull were handling their strategy.

"It's a little bit weird that Ferrari didn't jump immediately when they saw his [Perez's] sector times," assessed Button.

"The first sector they saw, they should have immediately jumped into the pits after that and they would have kept the lead, but it's always a lot more when you are leading a race.

"Pitting, you always feel like you're giving up track position. I think that maybe they thought about it too much and should have jumped at the chance to pit Charles."