Can Sergio Perez recover from Miami’s defeat, and pick up speed for a title fight? Because if anyone can challenge Max Verstappen at the moment, it is Perez, who has a Red Bull. But he must make no mistakes if he wants any real chance of going for a title fight. Otherwise, Verstappen will be ahead and no.1. But the question is, will Red Bull sit back and watch while Perez is giving a hard time to their favorite driver?

Until 2022, Perez has provided the team with everything – from winning podiums to even helping their no.1 driver win championships. Were his favors returned? No. Despite securing the driver’s title already, Verstappen ignored team orders to let his teammate pass at last year’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix. As a result, Perez lost his chance to finish second in the driver’s championship. So he entered this season with his eyes on the title, and he’s well on his way to doing that already by winning the races. 

But the team won’t let that continue. Even if it hurts Perez to accept, it is Verstappen who has a better chance of winning the championship. So of course, Red Bull will start favoring the Dutchman. However, the former F1 driver Johnny Herbert suggested that the Mexican should ignore the team orders if does receive them later in the season. He would risk his seat at Red Bull by doing so because he’s bound to follow the team’s orders under the contract. But Herbert says that’s okay if it means winning the World title. 

“There’s always something in the contract that says don’t give the team a bad name. By going against the team, you do. They could let him go at the end of the year, but if you win the world championship, who cares? That little moment in Brazil, maybe that’s a sign that he’s going for it. I hope so,” Herbert told Express Sport. 

He further added: “However, Pérez does not enjoy the same advantage as Verstappen and Hamilton. However, the man from Guadalajara should not think about that. There is a risk of losing your seat. But to win a world championship? I would go for that.”

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But is Perez’s fight for the World Championship realistic?

Max Verstappen is ‘unreachable’: Sergio Perez 

For the Miami Grand Prix, Perez qualified first on the grid while Verstappen ended up ninth after Charles Leclerc’s spin brought Q3 to an abrupt end. Despite starting the race in pole position, Perez fell to second place. Verstappen, on the other hand, made a stunning recovery and defeated Perez from P9. Clearly, this made a dent in the Mexican’s optimism for the title challenge. 

Speaking after the race, Perez acknowledged that Verstappen’s pace was simply too strong to contend with in Miami. “I think the performance that he showed today was unreachable for me, so I have to understand why,” Perez told Sky. The pace at which Verstappen emerged to win the Miami Grand Prix signaled that there is no championship battle between the two Red Bulls. But is Perez someone to back down already? 

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After the Miami Grand Prix, Perez’s gap to Max Verstappen has increased to 14 in the driver standings.