Max Verstappen dismissed concerns over his team mate’s performance as one of Red Bull’s rivals warned he could cost them the constructors’ championship.
Verstappen claimed fourth on the grid for today’s race after Sergio Perez was eliminated in the first round of qualifying. Both drivers made mistakes in the high-speed Copse corner during Q1, but Perez’s ended his session as he got stuck in a gravel trap.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was seen shaking his head after Perez’s error, which left him 19th on the grid. Perez has scored just 15 points over the last five rounds, during which time McLaren have taken 28 points out of Red Bull in the championship.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says Perez’s poor form has opened the door for them in the constructors’ championship. His team lies third, 87 points behind Red Bull.
“You’ve got to assume Max is going to be first, second or third at every race for the balance of the year – probably more firsts than thirds,” he told media including RaceFans yesterday.
“Sergio underperforming is what’s opening the window for us. I think if we have the same points gain we’ve had the last six races over the balance of the year, we would get the job done.”
Brown said Perez’s performed should alarm Horner. “I would be – which I’m sure they are – very concerned about the lack of performance. But I like Sergio, so I wouldn’t want to comment further on that.”
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Verstappen defended Perez’s performance at Silverstone, saying he looked competitive in the practice sessions.
“Of course you always want two cars there,” he said. “But honestly today I think that was just unlucky and unfortunate what happened because we didn’t really get to see his his pace in qualifying.”
“I find it always difficult to comment on today because yesterday when he jumped in the car in FP2 he looked decent,” Verstappen added. “So it’s a bit unfair to say that this weekend he’s been off or whatever because I actually felt that in FP2 he felt good. Today with the conditions it’s tricky.”
Verstappen said he isn’t relying on Perez to help him fight for victory in today’s race. “At the end of the day, you always have to do it yourself,” he said after qualifying. “No one is going to help you win a race or whatever. You have to really go out from your own strength.
“Of course it…
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