Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has tipped a team from outside the leading group to end up “in the mix” at the front across this weekend’s Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.
Although this campaign has seen the top five teams from last season continue to retain an edge over the rest, the margins over a single lap have often been minimal.
This was exemplified last month as Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q1 in China despite having been eight-tenths down on the fastest time in the opening segment.
Monte Carlo’s unconventional street track configuration can prove a stumbling block and the short lap provides the less-fancied teams with a bigger chance to thrive.
Esteban Ocon demonstrated that 12 months ago as he converted third place on the grid into a podium appearance for an Alpine side which ended the season in sixth.
Perez, who crashed in Q1 and came home outside the points during that race, believes a replica result from a team outside the usual favourites could be on the cards.
Asked whether Ferrari and McLaren will be Red Bull’s main challenger this weekend, Perez said: “I think they will be in the mix, definitely. They will be very hard to beat.
But at the same time I do expect other teams to be a surprise, because given how small the margins are in qualifying,
here I’m sure some of the midfield teams will be able to put a great lap together and be in the mix as well.”
Red Bull’s dominance since F1 reverted to ground effect cars in 2022 has come under greater threat over recent times as Ferrari and McLaren have slashed the deficit.
The Woking-based’s updated MCL38 won in Miami through Lando Norris and the Briton also came close to usurping Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at Imola last weekend.
Perez has conceded the two sides beneath Red Bull are now able to sustain more pressure in races, but he warned that the reigning champions are awaiting upgrades.
“I think they’re just closing up a lot and we have to make sure that we do the same, we get a good upgrade,” Perez admitted.
“We haven’t put a massive upgrade on the car just yet, so they seem to be closing the gap.
“It’s great also, I think we all want to see how McLaren and Ferrari perform with a car that they’re capable of winning races. I think it’s something that will be fascinating to watch.”
While this round last season marked the start of a disastrous run for Perez, the Mexican is a Monaco GP winner as he triumphed in a rain-impacted encounter in 2022.
Perez has accepted that the limited overtaking on view around the tight Monaco streets means that securing a front-row start will be essential to repeating that victory.
“I think I know pretty much it’s all down to Saturday,” he previewed.
“If we are not on the front row, or third, we don’t have a chance of winning the race. So it’s important to be able to get in that first or second row at least.”
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