Former British racing driver and ex-Sky Sports announcer, Johnny Herbert, believes Sergio Perez must risk it all to win this year’s F1 title.
His comments come after Perez’s explosive start to this season which has seen the Mexican take Max Verstappen right to the wire.
It’s been a story of Red Bull supremacy thus far and they show no signs of slowing down.
The recent Miami GP secured another 1-2 finish for Red Bull – their fourth of the season.
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No other team on the grid has been able to get close to the RB-19, with Perez claiming victories in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan.
A rejuvenated Sergio Perez appears the only candidate capable of competing with reigning champion Max Verstappen. Johnny Herbert believes Perez may need to risk getting fired from Red Bull if he wants to win the title.
“If it’s your only chance, a bit like Nico (Rosberg). All the little things he did during his time with Lewis,” Herbert told the Daily Express.
“He wasn’t popular within the team and his relationship with Toto I believe wasn’t very good, but he got that trophy on his mantlepiece.
“You can’t control that. If it’s your only shot you’ll do anything to get that trophy on your mantlepiece. If you get thrown out at the end of that season that trophy is on the mantlepiece.
“We know Max has got that mentality and Lewis has that mentality and all the other drivers in the past who have won world championships.
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“Now it’s seeing if Sergio wants to do the same thing. It’s a risk that you may lose that seat, the best seat in Formula One at the present time. But to win a world championship? I’d go for it.”
Is it now or never for Sergio Perez?
With Perez now 33 years of age and racing with the current champions, one would assume it’s now or never to claim the title.
Max Verstappen has long been Red Bull’s star man, but this is the first time a teammate has ruffled his feathers.
Whether or not Perez takes Herbert’s advice on board only time will tell. Things will certainly be clearer come the Emilia-Romagna GP this weekend.