Pérez is no longer a number 2 for McNish
After his victory in Monaco, Sergio Pérez proved that he was no longer just a number 2 at Red Bull, according to former F1 driver Allan McNish.
At the end of 2020, Red Bull decided not to extend Alex Albon’s contract alongside Max Verstappen for the 2021 season. Instead, a much more experienced driver comes in: Sergio Pérez. The Mexican, who has always been familiar with the midfield while achieving podium finishes whenever the opportunity arose, arrived with the goal of being the perfect wingman to help Max Verstappen win his first world championship title.
And after a successful 2021 season for the Mexican, despite a few less impressive performances, his start to the 2022 season is simply very good. Pole position in Jeddah, victory in Monaco, and above all, never far from Verstappen, Pérez shows that he is the perfect driver for this number 2 Red Bull. And precisely, some are starting to wonder if he is not even too performing for this role.
After the Monaco Grand Prix, Allan McNish, former Toyota F1 driver and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, accurately assessed that Pérez could cause problems at Red Bull for a reason that may seem ironic. Sergio had a fantastic race [in Monaco]. This puts him within 15 points of the championship lead. He certainly gives Christian Horner a positive headache. I would say it’s a luxury problem to have; there are many teams that would love to be in this position, said the 52-year-old Scot.
McNish even comes to think that Sergio Pérez’s status is no longer the same at Red Bull. « I think he has put himself in a position where, within Red Bull, he is not a number two – he is almost becoming a kind of second number one. This is something that is very good for them, because they have two strong guys in the fight against Ferrari. »
If Pérez were to bother Verstappen in the fight for the title, Red Bull’s reaction could be the most interesting thing to watch this season.
