Sergio Perez Sets Lofty Expectations With Red Bull for Monaco After Spanish GP Flop

So far, in the 2021 season, Sergio Perez has not been able to keep up with teammate Max Verstappen. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Perez qualified in a lowly 8th but managed to claw his way up to 5th.

On the outside, this looks like a good result, but the Red Bull team have different expectations. Therefore, when the Monaco Grand Prix rolls by in a couple of weeks’ time, Perez will be eyeing better results.

At Barcelona, the Mexican was too far away from the leading party. Nevertheless, the former Racing Point driver was in the thick of the midfield action.

“Yes, it was a busy one; flat out from Lap 1 onwards,” he said. “Very difficult to get past Daniel [Ricciardo]. He was extremely quick on the main straight and yes, didn’t have the opportunity to go through him.

“I couldn’t do my own race, I really got stuck behind him, we lost a lot of ground to Mercedes and the Ferrari and that meant that really our race was very compromised.”

Sergio Perez is looking forward to the Monaco Grand Prix

The 31-year-old assured that his confidence in the car is growing with each passing weekend. In the build-up to the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, Perez admitted that the race will be a learning experience for him.

Having said that, he is excited to finally race a Red Bull on a track that it historically excels at.

“Every circuit is different so what I learn here will be different to what I need in Monaco, but the main thing is that I am still adapting and hopefully soon we can be 100%,” he continued.

“I am excited for Monaco, especially with this car as historically it’s been competitive and I think we have a chance of winning.”

Admittedly, it has been a while since Red Bull have won at a street circuit. That win came in 2018, courtesy of former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen could only muster a best finish of 4th in the Principality.

Perez himself has notched up a podium in 2016 for the erstwhile Force India team. Now, he is eager to go back to the Playground of the Rich and try to perform there.

READ MORE: Sergio Perez Admits He Is Surprised by How Max Verstappen Is as a Teammate – “They Say It for a Reason”