When Racing Point rebranded to Aston Martin ahead of the 2021 season, the team decided to sign the legendary Sebastian Vettel, leaving Sergio Perez without a race seat.
The suggestions that the Mexican was too good to not be on the grid for 2021 were proven right when at the second to last race of the season in Sakhir, the Mexican made a charge from last to first to pick up his first win in Formula 1.
This result caused Red Bull to sign Perez to replace the struggling Alex Albon, deservedly keeping the Mexican in the sport.
Since signing for the energy drink giants, Perez has been slightly underwhelming by being an excellent teammate for Max Verstappen but struggling to ever really challenge the Dutchman for race wins.
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Fans did see glimpses of Perez’s true talent last year, as the Mexican became the ‘King of the street circuits’ with wins in Monaco and Singapore, tracks where his teammate struggles.
Perez’s father Antonio has now suggested that fans have not seen the best of his son in F1, hinting that Sergio Perez could even become world champion in the future.
“These last two years have been the most important for him. The best thing is his relationship with Red Bull,” he told En Cancha MX.
“It must be remembered that Checo was not at this level and he found it, after he lost everything at Force India and Racing Point, when he was fired and left without a job, but these two years they have been the most important in all terms for Checo.
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“This is an experience that is very difficult for Mexico to repeat and we have to enjoy it. I tell you that the best of Checo Perez – we have not seen it yet. He has much more to give, and surely with the passage of time Mexico will have an F1 champion.”
After steadily improving during his time with Red Bull, Perez himself has claimed that he now feels ready to stop playing the wingman role for his teammate and truly challenge him for the championship.
Red Bull’s chief advisor Helmut Marko has warned the 32-year-old against challenging the Dutchman however, suggesting that only Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have the talent to beat the almost unbeatable Verstappen.