1st place Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB19. 30.04.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit, Azerbaijan, Race Day.
Ex-Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button says Sergio Perez would establish himself as a true challenger for the 2023 title if he won this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Perez scored his second win in four races in Azerbaijan to become the first two-time winner in Baku and mark his best-ever start to an F1 season.
Combined with his Sprint victory on Saturday, Perez has reduced the deficit to Verstappen, who finished third and second in the two races, to just six points heading to Miami.
Button expresses that he has been mightily impressed by the Mexican’s early-season form and believes a win at the Miami International Autodrome could spur him onto a proper title charge.
“I am really impressed with Sergio,” the Brit said. “Max, he has to be the toughest team-mate, because he just gets out there and gets it done in terms of his speed.
“I think [Perez] did a really good job at the weekend, and back-to-back wins if you like with the sprint race and the main event. That will give him a lot of confidence.
“I think we are only going to really know when we go to the next race. Kind of a street race as well: If he can pull out a win there, I mean that would be a massive deal for him. And I think that would give him confidence for the season.”
Race winner Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme. 30.04.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit, Azerbaijan, Race Day.
Since his switch to Red Bull in 2021 Perez has been unable to consistently be a threat to Verstappen’s intra-team supremacy as the Austrian outfit’s leading star.
The ex-McLaren driver has ended up 205.5 and 149 points respectively behind his team-mate in the standings in the previous two seasons, and only scored three wins to Verstappen’s 25.
Therefore, Button claims Perez needs to showcase that the performance he managed in Baku can be a regular occurrence to properly challenge Verstappen.
“We haven’t seen him throughout the season obviously be as competitive as Max,” the 2009 champion stated. “Max is on it every weekend.
“Lewis Hamilton: on it every weekend, pretty much. Maybe not so with the car this year. But that’s normally the way that they go racing, and that’s why they’re so difficult to beat over a season. Whereas Checo has been a lot more up-and-down.
“It’s much more difficult to win a championship like that when you’re up against Max. So I think the consistency is where Sergio has been lacking. The consistency to pull it out the bag. But if he can do it in Miami, I think he has a chance to fight for the championship.
“I didn’t think I’d be saying that, I really didn’t. But it’s great to see he’s got so much confidence in that car. And it’s good for the sport. We need it because the Red Bull obviously has an advantage at the moment.
“We need both them to be fighting. And I think Max is also like ‘fair play to Checo’. He’s done a really good job. So it adds to the title fight, we need it this season. So come on Checo!”
Keyword: Button: Miami win would mark Perez out as proper F1 title contender