Being Max Verstappen‘s teammate is a difficult challenge in and of itself. However, if a driver is able to keep him in check, it simply illustrates the caliber of a motorist. We are obviously referring to the “king of street circuits,” Sergio Perez, who this season has frequently provided his critics a mouth-sealing response by outperforming the double champion Max Verstappen on the track. Perez has pulled down Max Verstappen’s lead with only six points, despite the “biasedness” in the team. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend once again demonstrated how Christian Horner and company have consistently favored Max Verstappen. However, after being exposed, the Red Bull team boss was discovered in charge of fixing the damages.

Perez won his second race of the year with a little luck from the Safety Car and absolute perfection on the Baku Circuits streets. Horner, though, has displayed some favoritism for Max Verstappen instead of recognizing his achievements. Although Perez edged out Verstappen under the safety car, Horner told the Dutchman over the team radio that “Checo got a little luck with the safety car”

Even though Perez edged Verstappen under the safety car, the fact that Verstappen was pitted first when he complained of the extreme tire wear, knowing that Checo was also on the same tire, may have disappointed the fans. This has demonstrated Horner’s unfairness, and the Brit has chosen to limit the damages after being exposed. Being fully aware that the points difference has been reduced since Perez won both races in Azerbaijan, Horner has now officially declared his drivers “Free to Race.”

Now that we have seen four rounds, it appears that there are only two contenders for the crown, and they are both from the same Red Bull garage. Being mindful of this, Horner subsequently permitted both of his gladiators to compete. As per Speedcafe, the Briton said, “At the moment it’s the two of them. There’s a slight gap to the rest of the field but there are 19 more races to go and five sprint races, so there’s a huge amount of racing at a whole variety of different circuits. It could ebb and flow between the two of them, reliability could be a factor.”

Later, the 49-year-old added, “They were free to race today. All year, so far, they’ve been free to race. Yeah until the team’s interests, if you’re competing against a competitor, becomes bigger than the drivers’ interests. But as it is at the moment, they’re free to race.”

READ MORE: Sergio Perez Issues Stern Warning to Max Verstappen While Setting His Goals for 2023 Season

Given that all of their competitors are far behind them in terms of speed, Red Bull is the only team with any hope of a championship battle at this point. The RB18 had previously demonstrated, with Max Verstappen’s dominance, the blistering speed the Austrian outfit is endowed with. However, this time, Perez opts to reflect on why he is still competing at the summit of motorsports.

Max Verstappen receives a strong warning from Sergio Perez as he reveals his ultimate goal

After years of being Max Verstappen’s understudy, the Mexican driver has finally proclaimed himself a legitimate contender for the Formula 1 Driver’s Championship. The Red Bull Motorists each have two victories after four rounds and only six points separate Perez from Verstappen, who is currently in the lead. And with a win at his favorite track, Checo has given the Dutchman a Stern warning.

While conversing with Sky Sports and as quoted by F1 briefings, the Mexican said, “Having three kids at home, I wouldn’t be travelling around the world if I didn’t believe that I can be a world champion, and I’m working towards that. There is so much you can talk outside the car, it’s important to deliver on the track.”

Later Perez added, “I am fighting for it. But I also know it’s a long road ahead.”

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With another 19 races and five sprint races, do you believe Checo will be able to take on the fight with Merciless Verstappen?