Red Bull star Sergio Perez is ‘naughty’ and ‘dirty’ tactics help Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, says Mika Hakkinen
Two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen believes Red Bull will be able to use a ‘naughty’ Sergio Perez to their advantage.
Perez enters his second season with Red Bull in 2023, and has arguably the toughest task on the grid as Max Verstappen’s teammate.
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Last season things boiled over in Brazil when Verstappen defied team orders to let Perez past, hugely hindering the Mexican’s chances of finishing second in the driver’s championship.
Just a year earlier, Perez had managed to hold up Lewis Hamilton in the Abu Dhabi title decider, denying him a free pitstop for fresh tyres, which was crucial in Verstappen eventually taking the title.
Hakkinen expects more of the 2021 heroics this season, with Perez realising his best chance of staying in a race-winning car is to help his teammate.
Speaking to Unibet, Hakkinen said: “Perez is a good teammate. He’s allowed to be the naughty one.
“He seems to be very obedient. What I mean by being naughty is that sometimes the team asks him to do things, such as slowing others down.
“Sergio doesn’t care. He’ll slow them down, if the team wants. Whether it’s the qualifying or the race, he’ll do what he’s asked to do.
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“I think it’s dirty but if it works, it works. It’s a question of one’s image, though, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
“You won’t get that far unless you think you’re fast, but when you have a team-mate like Max, you need to be realistic and look in the mirror.
“You need to admit you can’t beat Max. It takes something almost supernatural to beat Max. Perez will be second, there’s no question about it.â€
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