Perez eyes home win and next season's F1 title
Nov.3 - His teammate may be the Red Bull star, but Sergio Perez still wants to win his home race in Mexico this weekend - and then have a shot at the 2022 title.
However, the 31-year-old Mexican admits Red Bull's priority will be securing this year's drivers' title for Max Verstappen.
"I always look for the best for the team," Perez said at an event ahead of his home race in Mexico City this weekend.
"Max is fighting for the drivers' championship and we all have to support him. We are also fighting for the constructors' championship and every point is the key to achieving it."
That attitude, however, isn't stopping Perez from setting his own sights even higher - and boss Christian Horner admits the team newcomer is finally getting up to full speed.
"Checo's finding his form more and more, and at this point of the year that's crucial for us," said Horner.
Perez confirmed his lofty ambitions, and credited Verstappen for helping him adjust to life at the wheel of a Red Bull.
"I have learned from Max how he takes the car to the limit from the beginning to the end. I think he is the only driver today who has that capacity," he said.
"I want to become world champion," Perez added. "It is my dream and I want to do it with Red Bull and I think next year I really can achieve it. That's why I'm here," he said.
And before that, a victory on home soil would be "incredible".
"It is the least my country deserves," Perez added. "I have always had amazing support no matter where I am and I am so thankful for that.
"Now I hope to win on Sunday."
Red Bull is expecting to be strong in Mexico City's high altitude setting, but Perez admits his team's task - beating Mercedes - will in fact be "difficult".
"We are going with our strongest downforce, as we did in Monaco. The track is so demanding due to the altitude - especially for the brakes and the engine cooling which are key," he said.
"It will be a very tough circuit."
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"I want to become world champion," Perez added. "It is my dream and I want to do it with Red Bull and I think next year I really can achieve it. That's why I'm here," he said.
Uh, Checo, have you talked with the doc and horny about this?
This situation is unlikely to arise in the first place, given this season’s general form, but on the off-chance, if Checo led with Max second, a swap would happen unless their gap were more than a pit stop.
Alternatively, if Max had a points lead more than 52, i.e., the two-race maximum score for a single driver, swapping for 6-8 extra points this late in the season wouldn’t be as crucial.
12 pts difference is nothing, so not maximizing all achievable points could prove costly.
Otherwise, a win this weekend is unlikely.
A WDC battle next season: Hopefully, as the more drivers, the better, but I doubt he'd come out on top in the end.
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