Ferrari boss suggests Sergio Perez could take 100-point lead over Max Verstappen.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes Sergio Perez could open up a huge advantage over Max Verstappen, providing Red Bull struggle with reliability problems.
23:03, 26 Mar 2023
By Ben Parsons
The Mirror

Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has suggested an unlikely sequence of events that would see Sergio Perez take a whopping lead of 100 points over Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen in the F1 title race.

“Imagine now that Perez wins two more races and Verstappen retires. A gearbox fails and he gets a penalty for the next one,” Vasseur said, as per Formula1news. "After Monaco, Perez is then 100 points ahead of Verstappen. These situations can happen.”

‘100-point lead over Max Verstappen’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-news-29556164


Max Verstappen ‘surprised’ by Sergio Perez as serious threat emerges
Martin Brundle believes Sergio Perez has surprised Max Verstappen's side of the garage with his pace.
by Mitchell Wilks
25 March 2023
Formula1News

Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle has suggested that Sergio Perez could be much closer to Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen over the course of the 2023 season, following a landmark victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix which ‘surprised’ team Verstappen.

“His fifth victory, four of which have been on street circuits – but more significantly his first victory when Max was second.” He continued, discussing how Perez’s win has likely settled among the camp in Verstappen’s side of the Red Bull garage.

“Team Verstappen were perhaps surprised that Perez could match their pace,” he claimed, and drew on the fact that Perez had to defend his lead while suffering from a longer brake pedal, shocked that the team didn’t stop the pair from racing at the front in order to protect a one-two finish.

‘Serious threat emerges’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/max-verst...hreat-emerges/


Ferrari boss claims Sergio Perez could ‘easily’ become 100 points ahead of Max Verstappen
Despite dominating the opening two races of the season, Red Bull has been plagued by reliability concerns that could halt its title charge.
by Edward Hardy
26 March 2023
Formula1News

Despite Red Bull’s strength, there appears to be unhappiness in the team’s garage over the car’s reliability, with mechanical challenges seemingly the only issue that could derail their title hopes.

“The whole feeling in the team, everyone is happy,” Verstappen said. “But personally, I’m not happy. “I’m not here to be second and when it looks like it’s going to just be between two cars, we have to make sure that the two cars are reliable,” he added.

‘Reliability concerns’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/ferrari-b...ax-verstappen/


Fittipaldi: Saudi Arabia showed Sergio Perez has the speed to fight Max Verstappen
26 Mar 2023 10:00 AM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

He (Formula 1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi) told the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com: “I think Checo showed in Jeddah that he has the speed. “At a certain point in the race, when Max was second and Checo was leading, Max tried to close the gap.

“But he did not succeed, as Checo was able to set a good pace against it. He showed himself to be a fast and tough racer at that point. I do think he is a good driver. He is very mature and very experienced. For the fans, it would be great if we could see those two fighting for the Championship.”

‘Sergio Perez has the speed’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/emerso...ax-verstappen/


Max Verstappen and Perez are no longer team-mates - Red Bull have a mess on their hands
COMMENT: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez's rivalry could boil over in 2023.
08:01, Sun, Mar 26, 2023
By Luke Chillingsworth
Daily and Sunday Express

Max Verstappen's 2023 title bid may be handed a major dent by his own team-mate as tensions rise at Red Bull. The two stars have clashed before but a tetchy moment in only the second race of the season is an ominous sign for things to come. “This will lead to a fight between the two. We can expect that there will be friction. Red Bull is certainly already aware of this. Perez showed that he is strong and has very good pace in the race.”

“At the same time, Verstappen is someone who doesn’t allow himself to be told and does what he thinks is right. The team can say whatever they want.” The pair appeared to clash moments after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as it emerged Verstappen had ignored a team request to secure the fastest lap.

‘Mess on their hands’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...harles-leclerc


‘Still lingers’: Why ‘churlish’ reaction proves Verstappen camp can’t support Perez at Red Bull
March 27th, 2023 3:17 pm
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)

Max Verstappen’s father’s “churlish” response to Sergio Perez’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix victory is evidence the Dutch family isn’t fully supportive of the Mexican’s place at Red Bull Racing, according to Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft.

“To be fair, he did say well done to Sergio,” he told Fox Sports. “But come on, Jos. Your son’s just finished second, he’s taken the fastest lap, he’s leading the world championship. I’m sure you can afford a smile from time to time.”

“I mentioned it on TV because I thought it was a bit churlish, to be honest, that he wasn’t smiling with the rest of the team, because it is a team sport and everyone works together, and I’m sure there will be times in the season where they might need Sergio’s help a little bit, just as there were times last year when Sergio needed Max’s help — and he might not have got it, to be fair.”

‘Still lingers’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...dbe1f535368c2f


Red Bull ‘certainly aware’ Sergio Perez won’t help Max Verstappen in any way
Seemingly against team orders, Max Verstappen grabbed the fastest lap point from his teammate Sergio Perez on the last lap of the Saudi Arabian GP.
by Edward Hardy
25 March 2023
Formula1News

Red Bull’s key adviser Helmut Marko has dismissed rumours of growing tension between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez after the latter lost out on the fastest lap point when the Dutchman scooped it at the last minute.

Verstappen’s move appeared to be in violation of team orders, with Perez stating post-race “They told me I had the fastest lap and to keep the pace, a certain pace, so I thought the communication was the same to Max.”

“We need to review because I got certainly the different information and I just couldn’t push it there,” the Mexican added. Defending Verstappen’s actions, Marko explained that “both of them adhered to the instructions more or less.”

‘Sergio Perez won’t help Max Verstappen’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/red-bull-...en-in-any-way/


Verstappen needs constant problems to give Perez title chance – Albers
Former Minardi, Midland and Spyker driver Formula 1 driver Christijan Albers is not convinced by Sergio Perez yet
March 26, 2023
By Joe Ellis
Total Motorsport

Christijan Albers has suggested that for Sergio Perez to have any chance of a Formula 1 world title, Max Verstappen needs constant problems.

“He can do it, but only if Max has problems five, six, seven or maybe eight times,” Albers said, as quoted by Formula Passion. “If instead, Perez has no problems, it could be a story like that of [Nico] Rosberg and [Lewis] Hamilton in 2016. At that point, it could be possible.”

‘Verstappen needs constant problems’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...chance-albers/