Sergio Perez admits sacrifice he may have to make for Max Verstappen ahead of Mexican GP

Hamilton takes stunning win after crash with Max Verstappen

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Sergio Perez admitted he may have to make sacrifices to help teammate Max Verstappen at the Mexican GP. The 31-year-old is set to perform at his home Grand Prix this weekend and, while he would love to go for the win, his services may in fact be required to help his fellow Red Bull racer take the chequered flag.

The Dutchman is currently 12 points ahead of rival Lewis Hamilton at the top of the drivers’ standings.

Should he clinch the world championship this year, he will be the first non-Mercedes driver to be crowned world champion since 2013.

Ahead of another pivotal race weekend in the context of this enthralling title race, Perez accepted he may be in a tough spot, such as having to give up a potential win.

“It’s complicated,” he said when asked about the possibility of team orders denying him a victory.

“We should see what circumstances we have in the race. At the end of the day, we are drivers working as a team and the main focus is on the team.

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“It’s the big picture. We will have to look at the circumstances. And that’s the beauty of racing: that decisions are made in the moment, in seconds, even though they are very complicated issues.”

Perez has secured back-to-back podium finishes in the last two races in Turkey and the US, and with the high-altitude circuit in Mexico City favouring the Red Bull car, he is optimistic about the team’s chances.

“I think we are in a good rhythm to fight for the podium in the last races,” Perez added.

“We are fighting for a lot in these last races, and every point will be important.

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“I would be proud to be able to achieve one of my dreams since my childhood [and win].

“This is a real opportunity that depends on me and my team, whereas other years it depended on other factors. So there is a very real chance, and my motivation is 100%.”

Despite coming into the weekend with a stomach bug and a lack of hydration in the car due to a problem with his drinks dispenser, Perez battled through the United States Grand Prix to take third place.

Ross Brawn labelled Perez as the “best of the rest,” and the F1 chief said he could ramp it up for the final five races.

“If he does that every weekend, Red Bull will be delighted,” said Brawn, writing in his column for Formula One.

“It would have been nice if he could put a bit more pressure on Lewis, but those two (Verstappen and Hamilton) were in a class of their own.”

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