Perez Targets Home Victory Amidst Struggles in Tough Season

Sergio Perez arrives in Mexico aiming to break his winless streak, seeking a triumphant victory in front of his home crowd.

Sergio Perez arrives in Mexico with a clear ambition: to finally win a race this season, and what better occasion than his home Grand Prix.

Perez is indeed targeting victory this Sunday in Mexico with his upgraded Red Bull, after competing in Austin without the full suite of improvements available to Max Verstappen at the US Grand Prix.

“Austin wasn’t a good weekend for me. We were missing some of the upgrades, and we essentially thought the new floor wasn’t as great as it turned out to be for Max. It’s all the better for this weekend.”

“We had a few new elements on my RB20, and we just didn’t have a good weekend. It wasn’t great, and I didn’t gain much confidence. But Mexico is different. It’s a different game. A different track. We’ll see. We’ve got some changes here, and I hope to be in contention for the win. I think I can become the eighth different winner of the season.”

How much slower was he per lap as a result? In Austin, he was a full 0.9 seconds off the pace…

“The figures and facts will stay internal with the team, with the engineers. We know what the gap was.”

No further comment from Perez, who seemed unfazed by his statements.

Verstappen has won the last three races in Mexico and even found success there during Mercedes’ dominant era. But Perez has yet to secure a victory at his home Grand Prix.

“I think we’ve had good races in the past. We’ve always been competitive. Every year I’ve been here with Red Bull, we’ve fought for the win, for the podium, so I really hope we can be at that level this weekend.”

In the battle for the constructors’ championship, it’s crucial that Perez starts scoring points in the remaining five Grands Prix. Ferrari has closed in on Red Bull, now trailing by just eight points. The Austrian team, which led much of the season, could find themselves finishing last if things don’t turn around.

“I don’t think it changes anything. We want to win the constructors’ championship, and whether we finish second or third makes no difference. We truly want to win. For that, we need both cars performing at their best and the best possible package.”

Perez was asked to explain his disappointing 2024 season, despite a promising start with three double podiums in the first four races. However, things took a sudden turn for the worse, and the Mexican has not stepped onto the podium since the fifth race, the Chinese Grand Prix.

“I know I’ve had a terrible, very difficult season. It started off really well, but it’s been tough. For me, if I get a good result, it can definitely change how I feel about the season on a personal level. I’m really ready to make that happen.”

“I’ve been on the podium here in Mexico before, and one of my sons was by my side. That moment will stay with me forever, having my son watching me from the podium. It’s something I hope he’ll always remember. If not, I’ll at least have the photo to show him when he’s older. Those are the moments that truly matter to me, and I hope to repeat that this weekend, only better.”

Perez is under contract to drive for Red Bull in 2025, but doubts persist around his future.

“I feel like I’m in the same boat as the team. We’re working to resolve the issues. We identified a major problem in Monza, and we’re heading in the right direction. That’s Formula 1, though. Sometimes the results don’t come, and you just have to keep your head down, focus on what you can control, and not worry about the ongoing rumours.”