Zak Brown, the McLaren CEO, has taken a swipe at Sergio Perez, stating that if Red Bull had two drivers like him, the world title would be much more contested.
Brown believes that although Red Bull is dominating this season, it is mostly due to the brilliance of Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen is the key to Red Bull’s success
Brown stated that the combination of Max Verstappen and Red Bull is unbeatable at the moment, and that Max and the team are making no mistakes. He believes that Verstappen is the one who is making the difference, and that Red Bull would not be as successful without him.
Although Perez has been a solid performer this season, Brown believes that he is not on the same level as Verstappen. He thinks that if Red Bull had two drivers like Max, the championship would be more open and competitive.
Brown’s comments come after Red Bull won the French Grand Prix with Verstappen taking the top spot on the podium. Perez finished in fourth place, behind Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
What the 2023 title battle would look like if Red Bull didn't exist 👀https://t.co/M0HnZoBwvg
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) August 2, 2023
Sergio Perez is not on the same level as Max Verstappen
Although Brown was respectful to Perez, he made it clear that he does not see him as a driver on the same level as Verstappen. He believes that Perez is a good driver, but that he is not able to match the talents of the Dutchman.
This is not the first time that Perez has been criticized this season. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has also questioned Perez’s ability to support Verstappen in the championship battle against Mercedes.
Despite the criticism, Perez has been a consistent performer for Red Bull this season, and has played a key role in the team’s success. He has finished on the podium twice, and has helped Verstappen to score valuable points in the constructors’ championship.
