Crimson Bull wants Sergio Pérez to ‘dig deep’ as F1 title battle looms

When the 2024 System 1 season started one of many drivers dealing with an amazing quantity of stress was Sergio Pérez. With Pérez coming into the ultimate yr of his cope with Crimson Bull, there was rampant hypothesis {that a} season like final yr, which noticed Pérez endure a mid-season swoon that shortly ended any inkling of a title battle between him and Max Verstappen, his time with the group would run out.

Nonetheless, Crimson Bull ended that hypothesis just lately, saying a brand new contract with Pérez that might preserve him with the group via the 2026 season.

But the hypothesis continues, as a result of one other mid-season swoon is right here.

And in contrast to final yr, it may pose an issue for Crimson Bull.

Final yr Crimson Bull was by far the dominant group on the grid, as Verstappen and Pérez mixed to win 21 of twenty-two Grands Prix a yr in the past. Verstappen’s unbelievable run of success a yr in the past noticed him rating 575 factors all through the season, singlehandedly beating second-place Mercedes, who completed with 409 factors on the yr. The 285 factors Pérez scored have been ok for him to complete second within the F1 Drivers’ Championship, however miles behind his teammate.

This yr, nevertheless, the sport has modified. With groups like Ferrari, McLaren, and in current weeks Mercedes closing the hole to Crimson Bull, Verstappen won’t be ready to ship a title on his personal. Verstappen stays the clear favourite within the Drivers’ Championship race, as he sits 81 factors forward of second-place Lando Norris. However the Constructors’ Championship is a bit tighter. In the intervening time Crimson Bull enjoys a 64-point lead over Ferrari, however the hole has definitely closed.

As for Pérez, he at present sits sixth within the Drivers’ standings, a far cry from his second-place end a yr in the past.

However maybe extra alarming for Crimson Bull isn’t the place Pérez sits in the meanwhile, however how he received there. Think about this graph displaying the standings of the highest six drivers, courtesy of Formula1Points:

As you’ll be able to see when the grid left the Miami Grand Prix Pérez — represented by the dashed blue line — was in second behind Verstappen. Since then, nevertheless, he has struggled to ship constant outcomes … and has seen a number of drivers overtake him within the standings.

Similar to the mid-season swoon he endured a season in the past.

The truth is, since Miami Pérez has lagged far behind the opposite seven drivers on the highest 4 groups:

This has had an influence on the Constructors’ outcomes since Miami as effectively. Each McLaren and Mercedes have gained floor on the Bulls on the prime of the desk, as each groups have outscored Crimson Bull over this stretch of the season:

Now, Crimson Bull nonetheless enjoys a lead within the Constructors’ Championship, however the hole has narrowed. To the factors that Crimson Bull Staff Principal Christian Horner has mentioned what Pérez must do to show issues round for himself and the group.

As a result of as Horner was fast to notice, simply because he has the brand new contract in hand doesn’t imply his place is totally safe.

“The primary 4, 5 races have been very aggressive and no matter’s occurred that’s brought on him to drop off… At Suzuka, one of many hardest tracks on this planet and an actual drivers’ circuit, he was a tenth of a second off Max, right here with 9 corners, the hole is clearly considerably higher. We simply must unravel it and assist him get better,” stated Horner on the Austrian Grand Prix.

“Checo’s place inside the group, and what he’s contributed to the group warranted that [contract extension]. However in fact, there’s at all times stress to carry out and that’s irrelevant of contracts, which we’re clearly by no means going to enter the element of.”

After that tough stretch of races a season in the past, Pérez rebounded to seize podium finishes in 4 of six races stretching from Austria to Monza. To listen to Horner inform it, it was an indication that the driving force can “dig deep,” and carry out when the stress is on.

“Checo is aware of it’s a stress enterprise and he is aware of the scrutiny that there’s, significantly in a automotive that’s profitable a number of races and performing with the opposite driver the best way it’s,” Horner stated in Austria. “In order that’s F1, and that stress simply naturally exists on any team-mate that’s beneath delivering. The media begin asking questions and it’s very straightforward to lose your head.

“Now what I’ve been impressed with Checo during the last 4 years, is that at any time when the stress has actually been on, and it’s on in the meanwhile, he’s at all times been in a position to bounce again. And he’s going to want to dig deep to do this.”

Final yr, Pérez wanted to “dig deep” to solidify his footing inside Crimson Bull, and put himself on a path to that new contract the group introduced earlier this season.

This yr, nevertheless, he must dig deep to not simply put himself on stronger footing with the group as soon as extra, however maybe assist Crimson Bull fend off a real title battle.

In any other case, it may actually be sport on.