Sergio Perez says he is feeling more at home in Red Bull's current car, but admits there are still plenty of driving style differences between himself and teammate Max Verstappen. After a mixed first season with the team, Perez has moved closer to Verstappen on pure pace in 2022, claiming a victory and five second-place finishes to hold third in the standings. While 85 points separate the pair at the halfway mark of the campaign, the Mexican has been encouraged by his overall form compared to the reigning World Champion. "I think being in my second year with the team, and the change of regulations, it definitely helped me," Perez told RacingNews365.com in an exclusive interview. "It was a good improvement. I think I'm more comfortable in the car this season."
Perez shares the "biggest difference" with Verstappen
In terms of how he drives the car compared to Verstappen, Perez explained that they are often "looking for different things" with set-up. "Sometimes we come very close; on some weekends we are extremely close, and on some others we are not so close," he commented, when asked about Verstappen wanting more oversteer, and a sharper feeling, in the car. Pushed to share more details, Perez said: "Seeing the way we apply the throttle and the way we brake is the biggest difference between us. "[But beyond that] I find it very difficult to compare what's the difference between drivers in terms of driving styles, because every time it's different."
How do these differences impact Red Bull's development?
Despite the pair wanting "different things" from the RB18, Perez denied that car development is more challenging for Red Bull as a result. "No, we are both pushing the direction of the car," he made clear. "At the end of the day, the team is doing the development and we are pushing and trying to get the most out of it every single weekend." As for how the team can improve the car's balance and find time over the second half of the season, Perez offered a simple response. "Well, it would be good to improve it all around, and to try to be a bit more complete in all areas," he summed up.
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