Jos Verstappen pinpoints Red Bull requirement for Perez success
Jos Verstappen has reiterated a central reason for Sergio Perez’s struggles at Red Bull, suggesting he would be “at the front again” if it had been addressed.
It is widely accepted throughout the F1 paddock that Red Bull produces a car to the liking of its lead driver, Max Verstappen.
The characteristics of which are oftentimes difficult for others to adapt to, something that hindered the progression of Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon with the Milton Keynes-based squad.
The Dutchman likes a nervous and so-called pointy front-end to his cars, which when handled effectively can be advantageous. However, it is not a quality many of his team-mates – or competitors – like to wrestle with.
In short, Verstappen’s preference is unusual and a departure from the norm of wanting a more planted and balanced package.
To his father, who also raced in F1, Red Bull developing a more “neutral car” would help Perez recover from his current slump in form, also something that likely would have aided him in his attempts to fend off being dismissed from the team, which is seemingly ever closer.
His lack of performance has cost Red Bull a third-consecutive constructors’ title, with the reigning champions sitting third with one rounds to go despite Verstappen wrapping up the F1 drivers’ crown.
The six-time grand prix winner has not finished inside the top five since the Miami Grand Prix, in May.
Meanwhile, his team-mate has not finished outside of the top six all season, despite the RB20 being a far cry from its dominant predecessor.
Verstappen has outscored Perez 126 to 9 points over the past seven rounds. The latter’s haul over that period being fewer than the 10 points taken by the Dutchman for his title-sealing fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix alone.
Statistics as such underline the gulf between the two drivers, something Verstappen Sr. says is up to Red Bull to address – both for Perez and more generally.
“That’s not up to us, that’s really up to the management of the team,” the 52-year-old told The Coen and Sander Show on Dutch radio.
“But I’m also sure that if Red Bull builds a neutral car that everyone can handle, Checo will be there at the front again. But we actually have little to do with that.”
Nonetheless, Verstappen Sr.’s input may come to late to save Perez, who now looks set to lose his seat following the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
However, his words of warning may still have weight for whoever slots in alongside his son next. Will Red Bull heed his warning?
