Perez makes Verstappen demand as Red Bull driver targets Mexican GP

Sergio Perez extends contract with Red Bull Racing until 2024

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Sergio Perez has told his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen not to hand him a victory at the Mexican Grand Prix this Sunday. Perez returns to his native Mexico to compete this weekend, and no doubt has his eyes on securing a famous victory in front of his home fans on race day.

It has been his Red Bull team-mate Verstappen who has dominated the 2022 season, having already been crowned world champion at the Japanese Grand Prix earlier this month. The back-to-back champion also secured victory in the United States last week to secure his seventh win in eight races.

Verstappen has dominated from the front throughout the season, but with the title already wrapped up it would be no surprise to see him and his Red Bull setup hand this week’s race over to his team-mate Perez in what would be a fairytale victory for the Mexican. Perez though does not want things to play out like this.

As a result it seems that if the 32-year-old is to win on home soil on Sunday, he wants it done off his own accord. He told ESPN: “I don’t need to be given anything, I have achieved everything without any gift for so many years, not that it is necessary, in the end I don’t think about it, I think about my work, about being perfect this weekend and looking for that victory.”

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Another key motive for allowing Verstappen to pass the power over to Perez in Mexico is Red Bull’s want for a one-two finish in the season standings. The 32-year-old is currently third behind Charles Leclerc, and a win in his home country would go a long way into helping his cause to finish one spot behind Verstappen.

Whilst a victory would prove key for Perez, the 32-year-old revealed the key component for Red Bull is to first focus on keeping up their hot streak of victories, before deciding who is the one to pass the chequered flag first. The Mexican went on: “[I] give everything on behalf of the whole team. 

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“If there is a situation where Max could support me, I think he will, without a doubt, but the important thing is to continue this streak, close the season strong and it would be ideal as second in the world championship.”

Perez currently has five Formula 1 wins – two this year – to his name throughout his career, but is yet to finish on a top of the podium at his home Grand Prix in Mexico City.

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