In the cut-throat world of Formula 1, the spotlight often shines brightest on the best performers. However, sometimes, the struggles of those who don’t reach the podium can reveal quite intriguing stories. Here, once again, the center of attention is Sergio Perez. The Red Bull driver found himself dealing with a ‘problematic’ challenger during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix qualifying session. While his teammate, Max Verstappen, soared to pole position, Perez’s performance took an unexpected twist.

While it’s evident, that 2023 has not been kind to the Mexican driver, his recent comments do not help his case. Especially when considering how ruthless Red Bull is regarding their second driver.

A challenging qualifying session for Sergio Perez

During the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix qualifying session, the Red Bull team once again experienced contrasting fortunes. Once again, the soon-to-be two-time world champion, Max Verstappen, showcased his prowess. He clinched the pole position with almost little to no effort. However, for Sergio Perez, the situation was starkly different, as has been the case in 2023. Late in the Q2 session, Perez could only finish thirteenth, with his lap time deleted. Resulting in his performance during this crucial session left much to be desired.

Perez, positioned thirteenth on the grid, expressed his frustration, stating, “It was quite difficult out there today, we struggled for balance a lot and we had so many issues that I couldn’t really fix any of them. Every corner was different and the conditions here made it tricky.”

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Max Verstappen too recognized the difficulties of the Lusail International Circuit but still secured the pole position. The Dutch driver added as quoted by formula1.com, “The tarmac was quite slippery so I was really having to build up lap after lap, but I think we were in a good window and we were improving quite nicely through each run.”

Unmasking the Irony

It’s understandable for any driver to struggle to keep up with Max, currently. But ironically, Sergio’s comments about the ‘problematic’ Red Bull challenger raise questionable eyebrows. His remarks simply make no sense. Especially when considering Red Bull’s competitive car, and Max Verstappen being in a different league than the rest of the drivers.

Perez lamented qualifying challenges. Whereas Team Principal Christian Horner acknowledged them but also praised the RB19’s strength. “We have had a very strong race car all year and I would expect a strong race car again on both Saturday evening and Sunday evening.”

While drivers in F1 are constantly under pressure. When at Red Bull, the pressure is unlike any other team. With Max always in his best form, being his teammate comes with huge expectations. Just ask Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Daniel Ricciardo. And once again, Max haunts his teammate, with his impeccable performance, as Checo finds himself at the wrong end.

Furthermore, Perez’s comments label the Red Bull challenger as ‘problematic.’ However, this irony arises from the team’s impressive and consistent performance throughout the season. It will be interesting to see if Perez will salvage the main race at the Qatar Grand Prix.

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With Sergio Perez’s RB seat still under threat, will he be able to finish in strong fashion and finally save his seat? The next couple of races are extremely crucial for the Mexican driver. It’ll be interesting to see if he can fight for his survival. Stay tuned to find out more.