Christian Horner is convinced that the Miami Grand Prix was a psychological blow for Sergio Perez
While the two drivers were battling for the championship in Miami, Max Verstappen's victory had an impact on Perez's season. Just when it was thought that he would be able to compete with the Dutchman.
And what if the season had turned on Sunday, May 7th? Considering the scenario of 2023 after the Miami Grand Prix, it is highly likely that Max Verstappen’s third victory had significant consequences. As they entered the 5th Grand Prix of the season, the two Red Bull drivers were neck and neck. Sergio Perez was trailing his teammate by six points. The Mexican and Max Verstappen had each claimed two wins, showcasing their own distinctive driving styles, and both performed remarkably well.
At the end of the qualifying session in Miami, fate seems to be smiling at Sergio Perez. While the 33-year-old driver had set the fastest time in Q3, Charles Leclerc made a mistake, crashing right at the end of the session. The drivers can no longer improve their times. Max Verstappen, who had also made a mistake, finds himself stuck in 9th position on the grid. Sergio Perez will start from pole position.
Sunday’s race was a nightmare for Sergio Perez. The two teammates, trailing behind eight cars, opted for radically different strategies. For Max Verstappen, the goal was a single pit stop, while for the Mexican, the team favored the tire strategy advocated by Pirelli.
Max Verstappen’s counter-strategy ultimately paid off. Despite his setback at the start of the Grand Prix, shortly after the halfway point and his one and only pit stop, the three-time World Champion managed to overtake his teammate.
The strategy chosen by Sergio Perez’s team did not allow him to cover the one of the Dutchman, and the race became a nightmare for him. Max Verstappen crossed the finish line 11.987 seconds ahead of his teammate. The pace of the 27-year-old driver on track is a slap in the face compared to Sergio Perez’s.
A difficult result to accept
After this Grand Prix, everything seemed more complicated for Sergio Perez. While he seemed capable of fighting for the championship, his teammate surpassed his pace starting from the middle of the grid. « “In the first four or five races, he was very, very strong”, said Christian Horner in the columns of Autosport.
« It was really after Miami that I think it was a psychological blow for him to lose that race. After that, he made a mistake in Monaco in Q1. Confidence is a vital thing in this sport and I think that momentum was affected because his races in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan were really exceptional. In Azerbaijan, he achieved a double. But when we returned to Europe, things started to deteriorate for him and there were ups and downs. »
If on some races on Sundays Sergio Perez showed improvement after Monaco, the mistakes made in qualifying didn’t help the driver regain confidence. « He had a brilliant race in Monza, and made the right choices in wet conditions in Zandvoort », explained the Red Bull team principal. « Unfortunately, errors started to multiply as he felt more pressure. But the positive thing is that he found his form towards the end of the season. And then he finishes as the runner-up in the world championship, something he had never achieved before. »
After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Sergio Perez has not won any races or sprints. The most challenging part of the season took place from Monaco (May) to Brazil (November). During this period, while the Mexican driver still had some good Sundays, his Saturdays remained unconvincing considering his car’s performance. However, he concluded the season with two podium finishes in the last two races and a very strong performance at Interlagos, where he finished 4th.
