Former Bridgestone competition department chief, Kees van de Grint, believed that Sergio Perez would not be able to defeat Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
Perez has been a part of the Milton Keynes team since 2021, but has struggled to match his Dutch teammate.
According to Grint, both Red Bull drivers face the challenge of driving a complex car. While he did not express an opinion on the quality of the car, Grint stated that Verstappen handles it more effectively than Perez. As long as Verstappen remains in control of the RB20, Perez will not be able to win the world championship.
Grint suggested that Red Bull team boss Christian Horner made a deliberate decision to renew Perez’s contract, taking into account factors such as team harmony and commercial aspects.
Evaluating Perez’s performance starting from the back of the grid, Grint acknowledged the disadvantage he faces due to the turbulence caused by the cars ahead. He pointed to Perez’s mistakes in Canada as an example of how any driver, including Verstappen, can make mistakes.
Grint also acknowledged that other drivers have made mistakes and retired from races. Despite Perez’s small errors, Grint still considers him a talented driver.
In the end, Grint recognized Perez’s potential for improvement and expressed support for the Mexican driver. Red Bull fans hope to see Perez recover and contribute points to the team alongside Verstappen.
