Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen says Sergio Perez must stay realistic with his hopes to beat Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
Verstappen has enjoyed a highly successful stint with Red Bull across the last two years, winning back-to-back F1 titles.
Verstappen convincingly out-paced Perez in 2021 and 2022, but the latter has set his sights on improving his form for the 2023 campaign and challenge race race victories at every event.
However, Hakkinen has backed Verstappen to get even stronger during the year ahead, believing an unreliable car is the only hurdle standing in the way of his third title.
“Max Verstappen is a very strong driver, that’s obvious,” Hakkinen told Unibet. “He always has been.
“He’s worked hard to become the driver he is today. Is there currently someone faster than him on the track? I doubt it. I don’t think there is.
“The championships have reinforced his self-confidence. He knows better how to prepare for the season. He’s still young.
“The team knows what he can do, the team believes in him 100 per cent. His talent will further develop, it won’t go backwards, it develops.
“Now it only comes down to one thing – if the team fails in their technical development, making the car unreliable and not being able to score points.
“That’s when the other teams can get the upper hand. That’s the only thing stopping them.”
Perez famously played a major team role during the 2021 season to help deliver Verstappen his first title, which included holding up Lewis Hamilton at the finale in Abu Dhabi.
Having bowed to Red Bull’s wishes at times during the first two years at the team, Hakkinen says that he must concede that he won’t be able to best Verstappen during their stint as team-mates.
“Perez is a good team-mate” Hakkinen said. “He’s allowed to be the naughty one. He seems to be very obedient.
“What I mean by being naughty is that sometimes the team asks him to do things, such as slowing others down. Sergio doesn’t care. He’ll slow them down, if the team wants.
“Whether it’s the qualifying or the race, he’ll do what he’s asked to do. I think it’s dirty, but if it works, it works.
“It’s a question of one’s image, though. But that’s how it goes sometimes. You won’t get that far unless you think you’re fast.
“But when you have a team-mate like Max, you need to be realistic and look in the mirror. You need to admit you can’t beat Max.
“It takes something almost supernatural to beat Max. Perez will be second, there’s no question about it.”
