The 2023 Austrian Grand Prix will take place over 71 laps on the 4-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg this Sunday.
Many eyes will be on Sergio Perez, who has dipped in form following a strong start to 2023 and is now in the middle of a “podium drought.”
Perez has downplayed his chances of winning this weekend’s race, saying that he is instead focusing on improvement, and putting on a good show for his fans.
He is referring to the strong support from his Mexican fans, who have flown in droves to support their fellow countryman.
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The Red Bull driver said: “I also can’t believe how many Mexicans are here. Every year I see the Mexican flag flying when I arrive at the track and that makes me happy.
“The focus will be on the track for me. I know how important it is for me now to have a consistent weekend and really produce a result.”
The 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Perez placed first, may seem like a distant memory but the driver is hoping to replicate that performance this Sunday.
Perez will have little time to settle in the RB19’s driver seat, as this will be the second sprint race of the season.
He acknowledges the challenges this presents, saying: “It’s a sprint race weekend, so the time in the car for set-up will be minimal. We have to maximise every moment in the preparation.
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“Last time in Baku I had a lot of fun and I was successful, but that was on a different circuit. I want to achieve the same thing now, but I know that I have to go the extra mile.”
Following Perez’s win in Baku in April, he was flying high – reaching 33 points to stay right on his teammate Max Verstappen’s tail for the year’s Championship.
This now seems like a pipe dream, with Perez having only accumulated 126 points in comparison to Verstappen’s 196.