The Mexican’s victory within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has moved him to inside six factors of world championship chief Max Verstappen and confirmed him as a real challenger for the crown.
Reflecting on the Baku efficiency, and particularly on the best way that he managed the tempo on the entrance – like in Saudi Arabia – Perez has singled out work he did together with his engineers over the winter in addressing tyre administration issues as triggering a metamorphosis in his fortunes.
“I feel considered one of my weaknesses final yr was taking care of the tyres,” stated Perez, when requested by Motorsport.com in regards to the significance of the Baku end result. “In the course of the winter, I sat down with my engineers to undergo it, as a result of I used to be fairly dissatisfied [with last year] – I did not have good race tempo.
“I feel we managed to grasp a whole lot of issues and we have been significantly better in that regard this yr.”
Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing, 1st place, within the Press Convention
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Whereas Perez has a repute as being probably the greatest drivers at taking care of tyres up to now, he says these abilities weren’t simply transferrable to the Pink Bull automotive idea.
“After I got here to Pink Bull, the best way you take care of the tyres across the groups could be very totally different,” he stated. “So I needed to study loads on how you can take care of the tyres in a Pink Bull automotive.
“I feel in my first yr, I acquired higher in the direction of the top of the yr. However, with the regulation change, I used to be not in a position to take care of them correctly.
“I really feel now that I am significantly better at it. With the understanding of a Pink Bull automotive, I really feel far more like a Pink Bull driver.”
The progress he has made to date with unlocking what is required for the Pink Bull additionally leaves Perez assured there may be loads extra room for enchancment.
“There’s nonetheless extra to come back, an increasing number of to come back in that regard in changing into extra of a Pink Bull driver, and the best way to drive the Pink Bull automotive,” he stated. “I feel, as soon as you’re actually established in a group, and also you perceive the idea of a automotive, you’ll be able to extract the utmost. That solely comes with time, and the extra time you spend with a group, the higher.
“However I definitely imagine that I made the massive steps in comparison with final yr.”
Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
Perez says that operating up towards a team-mate like Verstappen has not been simple to cope with, which is why he selected to undertake a deep evaluation of his driving over the winter.
Requested how he acquired himself again on observe for this yr after a tough 2022, he stated: “I am mentally very sturdy. That is my largest energy and that has at all times been.
“It’s not simple being Max’s team-mate as a result of he is delivering on a regular basis and he is successful on a regular basis. We’ve seen it up to now that it is not simple for a team-mate to outlive.
“I believed in myself however I needed to go very deep into understanding the entire idea of the automotive and ensuring that I put the proper instruments in place to have the ability to struggle.”
