Sergio Perez has finally shown his ambition to win a championship, as he knows there can’t be a better opportunity than this for him to clinch ultimate Formula 1 glory. However, former F1 driver Anthony Davidson claims Perez can’t win the title against Max Verstappen until he drops his “Mr nice Guy” personality.
Davidson also advises the Mexican race driver to seek inspiration from Nico Rosberg’s campaign in 2016. That year, the former Mercedes star left no stone unturned to beat a figure like Lewis Hamilton in the dominant Mercedes. Similarly, Perez needs to annoy and get into his teammate’s skin.
“You’ve got to be more Rosberg, 2016. That’s what you’ve got to do. And I think now it’s time for Sergio to stop being Mr Nice Guy. He’s got to get under Max Verstappen‘s skin. He’s got to annoy him,” said Davidson to the Skysports F1 podcast.
Sergio Perez will have to make personal sacrifices
Davidson remarked on other things that Perez might have to sacrifice to boost his championship chances. There could be a few instances where even his family wouldn’t be delighted or have to be unavailable to them during critical times, which could cause resentment.
But like Rosberg, who most of the time had to stay away from his newborn to fuel his title contention by working extra, Perez would have to do the same. This approach is the only way to oust Verstappen as the world champion.
Sergio Perez becomes the first driver to win multiple races in Baku 🍾
Curse broken 🤝 pic.twitter.com/NbMmWaMMYO
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) April 30, 2023
So far, Perez has been seen as a reliable deputy to Verstappen, assisting the latter in the last two title glories. But now, he has hinted at being a world champion himself. However, according to Davidson, words aren’t enough, and he must make amends.
Max Verstappen isn’t happy
Verstappen and Perez won two races in the season’s first four races. So, it’s brewing up into something tense and could convert into rivalry fans are waiting to witness.
With Perez’s latest win in Azerbaijan, the SkySports panel and Davidson think Verstappen isn’t happy. Rachel Brookes, on the same podcast, claims that Verstappen wasn’t pleased with his teammate winning the race and didn’t even smile when the world champion was giving an interview to her.
Brookes also thinks that Perez will push Verstappen more than ever, and even the latter realizes it. So according to her own observation, the possible tough challenge has started to bother the 25-year-old Red Bull star.
