Nico Rosberg, arguably the only driver capable of challenging Max Verstappen given Red Bull’s supremacy, claims Sergio Perez has “let F1 fans down.”
With teammate Verstappen winning back-to-back championships in 2021 and ’22, Perez was determined that this season would be his.
Instead of competing for the championship, the Mexican driver is trying to keep his Red Bull seat despite persistent rumors that the company is examining other choices.
Sergio Perez hasn’t won a race since round four in Baku
For Perez, 2023 will be a tale of what could’ve been as he started brightly, claiming two wins and two runner-up results in the first five races.
But as Verstappen went on a 10-race winning rampage, Perez struggles mounted as he lost confidence in the car and in himself.
His recovery has been anything but linear as he’s hit another slump that’s meant he hasn’t featured on the podium in the last three races.
Although Rosberg feels for the 33-year-old, he says Perez “let F1 fans down” as he made it “too easy” for Verstappen.
“I feel for him because it is such a horrible situation to be in,” he told Sky Sports podcast.
“The pressure of the world on his shoulders and social media is critising him so much because all F1 fans are relying on him to keep things exciting and in a way he has let F1 fans down because he’s made it too easy for Verstappen.
“I was in that situation with [Lewis] Hamilton, knowing I was really carrying the expectations of everybody on my shoulders to keep it exciting and to not let it become boring with Lewis Hamilton being too dominant.
“It’s a very difficult situation for him.” So I can truly connect, and he’s going through a lot. Qatar was a terrible weekend, with the worst automobile.
“He really needs to find the way there and very quickly because how he’s driving now Red Bull really need to consider even for next year.”
With it now being suggested that Perez’s Red Bull future is dependent on him finishing second in the championship, the pressure mounts as he is only 30 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton with five races remaining.
In the last three races, Hamilton has snatched 25 points away from Perez’s advantage.
It raises the question, will Verstappen not only assist his teammate secure a 1-2 in the standings for Red Bull, but also essentially salvage his career?
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