Häkkinen believes that Pérez will not be able to beat Verstappen in the championship
More comfortable with Red Bull this season, Pérez is much closer to Verstappen. However, according to Häkkinen, the Mexican won't be able to beat his teammate, the reigning world champion, and become champion himself, especially because of his lack of consistency.
In this early season of 2022, Sergio Pérez is much more comfortable than last year. Fast and making few errors, the Mexican has been able to consistently challenge his teammate and reigning world champion, Max Verstappen.
After his victory in Monaco last month, some were already imagining the possibility of a Pérez – Verstappen battle for the world title at the end of the year, following the numerous setbacks experienced by Charles Leclerc and Ferrari. Two Grand Prix later, Verstappen has a comfortable lead over his pursuers and his impeccable consistency shows that it will be extremely difficult to beat him.
According to Mika Häkkinen, the reigning world champion in 1998 and 1999, Sergio Pérez will not be able to beat Max Verstappen in the championship.
When things get more complicated, Max will do a better job, according to the Finnish. Internally, the team sees Max as the number one. But from the outside, it doesn’t seem as straightforward anymore. I don’t think he can challenge Verstappen. Pérez is a driver who can bring good results. The new car suits him better.
Max, on the other hand, is so talented but, in the end, I believe that Perez’s performances are inconsistent. In the long run, inconsistency will not make you a champion. Perez will always challenge Verstappen for Grand Prix wins. But he has to give his best in every race, and he doesn’t », concludes Häkkinen.
With a win in Monaco and five podium finishes in nine Grand Prix races, Sergio Pérez is experiencing his best start to a season in his career. However, Max Verstappen’s impressive consistency and the preferences of his team will surely not help him win the championship at the end of the year. Above all, we must not dismiss Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, as this start to the season has proven that anything can happen very quickly.
