Perez reveals rare feeling with Red Bull

Sergio Perez has issued a strong statement ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, as he looks to arrest his recent poor run of form.

The six-time grand prix winner is currently in the midst of a lean period, which has seen him collect a meagre 15 points in the previous six rounds. In that span, team-mate Max Verstappen has eclipsed his tally, scoring over 100 points more.

This has put him under considerable pressure, and there is growing speculation he could lose his Red Bull seat, despite signing a two-year extension last month.

Team principal Christian Horner was quick to highlight the first indications that Perez is re-finding the level of performance expected by the team - something the Mexican driver also pointed out.

“It has been a good Friday, I think we made a good step from FP1 to FP2, we made the right changes and took the right direction," the 34-year-old said after the second practice session at the Hungaroring.

"This is the most comfortable I have felt with the car at this stage of the weekend in a while. The steps we have made throughout the day have been the best we can do and that is really positive."

Perez sure his 'time will come'

Despite a relatively quiet FP1 in Budapest, where he went 11th fastest, Perez was right on the pace in second practice, ending the session fourth-quickest on the timing sheet.

If the Mexican can come good at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the subsequent round in Belgium, it may well save his Red Bull career. 

RacingNews365 understands that performance clauses in his contract stipulate he can be no more than 100 points behind Verstappen at the summer break. That delta is currently 137 points. 

He must also remain within five places in the drivers' championship, which he is, but the two Mercedes drivers are fewer than 10 points behind. Despite this, Perez is defiant in tone and remains sure he will be with Red Bull next season.

"We are feeling good and the long run looked promising too," he said of his prospects at the Hungaroring.

"I think we can still really dial up the set-up now and at the end of the day it is just about putting everything together at the right time. 

"Our time will come, it’s head down for now and look forward to tomorrow. Let’s see what the rest of the weekend holds for us now.”