For what appears to be the first time in his career, Sergio Perez arrives at the Mexico City Grand Prix with a car that could legitimately be in contention for victory at his home race. But the Mexican was wary of giving up a win on Sunday to help out team-mate Max Verstappen.
Verstappen currently has just a 12-point lead in the drivers’ standings over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with five races to go this season. And Perez – who has won just once this year in Baku – was asked ahead of the race if, if he were leading a Red Bull 1-2, he would step aside to let his team-mate through and support him in the title shot.
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“I think it’s going to be a big problem on my part, you know?” he answered. “It always depends on the situation because most decisions are usually made during the race, in the heat of the race, so I think we’ll see depending on the circumstances. But I’m pretty sure the whole team, Red Bull, everyone wants me to win this weekend.
“I think everyone is so enthusiastic, everyone on my team, the audience – it’s a very special place for us,” he added. “We’re going to see through the race, but I’m pretty sure everyone on this team … if there’s one race they want me to win, it’s this one. So I’m sure I’ll have the full support of everyone in my team.”
Perez completed a show car run in downtown Mexico City before the race
Perez’s chances of victory look particularly rosy this weekend as the Mexican has been on the podium in two races in Turkey and the USA – while Red Bull have had the fastest car in qualifying in Mexico for the last two editions of the Grand Prix.
And Perez admitted that whatever happened during the race, his main goal this weekend was to put in a good performance in qualifying on Saturday.
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“I really want to continue my form,” said Perez. “I feel more at home now, with the team, with the car and I really hope I can have a great Saturday [together]. Overtaking is generally very difficult here. We place high demands on the brakes, on the engine, so it’s always a very tricky race when you’re not in front. So I’m looking forward to a good qualifying [together].”
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Meanwhile, Perez answered questions alongside former Red Bull driver and 2018 Mexican polesitter Daniel Ricciardo at Thursday’s press conference – with Perez yielding to the Australian when asked how strong Red Bull would be this weekend.
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“Daniel knows more!” he laughed. “They were generally very strong. So he knows more than I do – I’ve never been to this track with Red Bull…”
“You’re going to have fun!” Ricciardo replied. “You will have fun!”
