Sergio Perez’s 2024 Formulation 1 season has been a far cry from the usual set by his Pink Bull teammate Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris has added gas to the hearth with a not-so-subtle jab on the Mexican driver’s underwhelming efficiency.
“A Story of Two Drivers”
Whereas Verstappen cruised to his fourth consecutive world title with an astounding 403 factors, Perez has struggled, managing a mere 152 factors after 22 races. This large disparity has left Pink Bull third within the Constructors’ Championship behind McLaren and Ferrari, regardless of Verstappen’s brilliance.
Talking forward of the Qatar Grand Prix, McLaren’s Norris identified the evident hole between Verstappen and Perez, insinuating that Pink Bull’s fortunes within the Constructors’ standings may have been very totally different with two top-tier drivers.
“Pink Bull most likely would have gained the constructors if they’d two drivers nearly as good as Max, that’s for positive. That’s clear. That’s apparent. It reveals that as a crew, they’ve nonetheless most likely accomplished the very best job.”
“Perez Acknowledges Verstappen’s Brilliance”
In response to the rising scrutiny, Perez has admitted that Verstappen’s type has been nothing in need of spectacular. Reflecting on his teammate’s dominant yr, Perez provided excessive reward for the Dutchman’s relentless pursuit of excellence:
“That is the very best Max I’ve seen, the best way he pushed the crew and the way onerous he labored throughout this yr. There have been a variety of durations throughout the yr the place we regarded actually far [away], and he would push the crew in all of the areas, in all of the elements.”
He went on to commend Verstappen’s development as a driver, highlighting his means to learn races and collaborate with the crew:
“Max has made very massive steps out of the automotive. His expertise and his velocity have been there since day one, however how he reads the races, how he works with the crew, how he pushes the crew—that’s the most important step that he has accomplished in these previous years.”
“The Clock is Ticking for Perez”
Because the season winds down, the stress on Perez is immense. With **solely two races left—Qatar and Abu Dhabi—**he’s combating to show his price to Pink Bull. His lackluster efficiency has fueled hypothesis about potential replacements, with names like Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, and even Daniel Ricciardo being floated as candidates for the coveted second seat.
Perez might want to ship standout performances within the last rounds if he hopes to solidify his spot with the Austrian crew for 2025. The penultimate race in Qatar presents a vital alternative for the Mexican driver to silence critics and remind Pink Bull why he was signed within the first place.
“A Season to Overlook?”
Whereas Verstappen’s heroics have showcased what Pink Bull can obtain with a very distinctive driver, Perez’s struggles have left questions concerning the crew’s second automotive. As Norris hinted, a stronger efficiency from each drivers may have modified the end result of the Constructors’ Championship.
With Pink Bull’s 2024 marketing campaign outlined by contrasts, Perez’s future stays unsure, and all eyes will probably be on his last efforts to show he belongs in probably the most aggressive seat in Formulation 1. Will Qatar mark the beginning of his redemption, or the start of the tip?
