Sergio Perez has been told to stop discussing with the media “his desire” to claim the title this season, with four-time World Champion Alain Prost having admitted that he’s tackling his championship challenge all wrong.
Perez started 2023 impeccably by claiming two wins from the opening four races, something which saw him labelled as Max Verstappen’s only title rival.
However, recent mistakes have allowed Verstappen to build a 53-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship, a gap which Perez will likely struggle to close.
Perez hasn’t finished on the rostrum since the Miami Grand Prix, due to having finished 16th in Monaco and fourth in Spain.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Verstappen on the other hand heads to the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend on a three-race winning streak.
The reigning World Champion has finished no lower than second this season, highlighting how unbelievably consistent he’s been.
Perez has always finished in the top-two this season when he’s progressed to Q3; however, he’s finished no higher than fourth on the three occasions this season where he’s failed to make it to the end of qualifying.
Prost has warned the 33-year-old that he needs to change his approach to fighting Verstappen, with the F1 legend having told him to make his team-mate “doubt him”.
“A driver’s game is always to try and tip the balance in his favour, whether it’s the set-up of the car or the contribution of the team,” Prost wrote in his L’Equipe column. “And that’s where Perez is wrong.
“He needs to make Max Verstappen doubt him and change Red Bull’s mind about him. As we know, Perez is tackling an almost impossible mission. And in order to achieve it, he must above all not shout so loudly about his desire to beat Max.”
Perez’s recent issues aren’t all down to him though, with Prost believing his father hasn’t been of use.
Checo’s father has somewhat been putting the Red Bull driver under pressure, by comparing his fight with Verstappen to Prost’s with Ayrton Senna’s.
READ: Lewis Hamilton to sign new contract before 2023 Canadian GP
Prost believes the comments that Perez’s father has made are “pointless and counterproductive”, and by no means supportive of the Mexican’s title chances.
“His entourage isn’t helping him either,” added Prost.
“When I read a month ago that his father told journalists that his fight with Max was similar to the one I had with Ayrton [Senna]… it’s pointless and counterproductive.