Perez hit with Brazilian handicap despite Marko claim

Sergio Perez’s hopes of being on an even keel with Max Verstappen this weekend have been dashed again.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had indicated that Perez’s RB20 would run with the new floor that was on Verstappen’s car at the start of the current triple-header in the United States Grand Prix.

Marko had indicated that for this weekend’s race in São Paulo, Perez would be “getting a new chassis now to calm down” following his complaints about the car in his home race in Mexico City last week, notably under braking.

Perez, on the ropes and under pressure, has stated that will not be the case and he will have to wait until the next race in Las Vegas in late November.

“We don’t have it at the moment,” confirmed Perez. “Hopefully for Vegas now that there will be a little bit more time, I will have it.”

Perez has suggested that without the floor, “there is something” that has resulted in his issues of late, additionally that his car “is carrying a little bit of weight”.

“It’s not ideal, but obviously the team is doing the best it can,” he said. “We’ve been affected also, with so many incidents for now. The team is pushing flat out.”

Perez has confirmed that even in between the Americas races of late, personnel are returning to Milton Keynes to understand the difference in the car’s race pace.

In Verstappen’s hands, at least, the car is performing over one lap to a certain extent, even if the three-time F1 champion was unable to land a pole position for the grands prix in Austin or Mexico City.

“Everyone is pushing to understand where the pace has gone,” said Perez. “The pace in Mexico was obviously disappointing, and I think we understand a lot of the reasons.

“I really hope that here we can put it together as a team and be in the mix.”