Perez highlights ‘similar issues’ in Verstappen comparison

Sergio Perez has drawn parallels between himself and Max Verstappen over the problems the pair have faced at Red Bull this season.

The 34-year-old feels they have both experienced "similar issues" with the RB20, despite the Dutchman clinching the F1 drivers' championship.

Meanwhile, he sits eighth in the standings as the only driver from the top four teams without a victory to his name - let alone two, as the other seven have achieved.

Overall, Red Bull has endured a torrid year by its recent standards and is on course to relinquish its constructors' championship crown to either McLaren or Ferrari come season's end.

Having breezed to the title in 2022 and 2023, the diminishing returns in the development of its car, the difficulties it has suffered in getting the best out of the RB20, and the considerable progress made by its F1 rivals has culminated in the Milton Keynes squad sitting 53-points adrift with two rounds to run of the current campaign.

Those challenges have been compounded by Perez, who has struggled to find form for much of the year. 

His performances have fallen well short of the expected - and accepted - level, and his meagre returns may well result in him losing his seat over the winter, despite holding a contract for 2025.

Nevertheless, the Mexican driver feels Red Bull is "working well together" as a team as it faces the prospect of finishing third in the constructors' championship, even though Verstappen won the drivers' title.

"We're working as a team," Perez responded to media including RacingNews365 when asked if he feels the Dutchman has been supportive of him this season.

"I think especially the last few months, we've had similar issues with the car, so we're pushing in similar directions to try and improve the car.

"And at the end of the day, we are working as a team, like I say. The team knows exactly what we've done, where we are, and I think we're working well together."