Perez outlines ambitious target for 2024 F1 season

Sergio Perez has set his target for next year's Formula 1 campaign as challenging for the Drivers' Championship. The Mexican endured a difficult third year at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen this season as he struggled for form throughout much of the term. Perez won two out of the opening four races as he enjoyed one of the strongest starts in his F1 career but his results soon spiralled while Verstappen stretched out a mammoth lead in the standings en route to a third title. Questions were soon raised over Perez's future with the team, accelerated by Daniel Ricciardo's return to the grid with AlphaTauri. Ricciardo has publicly outlined his desire to return to Red Bull in the coming years, which would come at the expense of Perez as Verstappen is locked in until at least the end of 2028.

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Despite his struggles during the campaign, Perez ended the year second in the standings - the highest result of his career. However, triumphing in the World Championship would mean besting team-mate Verstappen who enjoyed statistically the most dominant campaign in F1 history this year. While Perez is aware of the tall task ahead of him, the 33-year-old has set his sights on the top spot in next year's standings. “That's the main target for me, because I've already finished second,” Perez told media including RacingNews365.com . “My main interest is to do the one better and I'm aware of the challenge that it is. “We've got to really take this winter time to try to start the season on a high and be able to maintain that level of consistency throughout the season.”