Sergio Perez has hinted why he feels he excels on Formula 1's street tracks ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. Of the Red Bull driver's five career wins, as of the 2023 Miami Grand Prix, four of them have been on street tracks, including in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan this term in what has been the strongest start to a season in his career. Perez is also the defending race winner in Monte Carlo, having claimed success in 2022, with his smooth throttle application and mastery of looking after the tyres usually marked out as reasons why he is so strong. And the Mexican has another theory as to why he has claimed 80% of his wins on temporary circuits.
Perez on street track form
"I always enjoy them, they're always good," Perez told media, including RacingNews365.com , of his penchant for street races. "In such circuits, you always have to be very strong in the race, very strong with the pressure and be able to handle the pressure. "You are not able to make mistakes, if you do a small mistake on a normal circuit, you can get away with it, but on the streets, you cannot get away with those mistakes. "I think I probably have more confidence than others come race day, and at the end of the day, the way I won in Baku on pure pace, it doesn't matter if it's a street circuit or a permanent circuit. "If I can do that in Baku, I can do it anywhere."
Playing with the car
Perez has yet to take a Red Bull victory on a permanent circuit, while teammate Max Verstappen has clocked up 19 wins (not including the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix washout). But he feels he is able to "play" with the car more on street circuits to make the difference. "The reason I am strong in these circuits is because I'm able to play with the car more than I am used to – so I see no reason why when we go to different circuits [I can't improve]," he added. "Every weekend is a challenge, so it is hard on paper to know if it suits you or not, so that's why it is important to just be able to keep playing the car. "I think I have a really good understanding with the car, and believe I can be strong anywhere."
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