Former team boss of Perez expects big duel between Red Bull teammates
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Next year Max Verstappen will have to compete against his most experienced teammate to date. Sergio Perez has driven more than 190 Grands Prix and, compared to Verstappen, the Mexican brings more experience with him. Nevertheless, Verstappen will want to prove himself as Red Bull Racing's team leader in the opening stages of the season.
Unlike Verstappen's previous teammates, Perez has a wealth of experience. Peter Mucke, Perez's team boss when the Mexican was still racing in Formula BMW in 2006, thinks Verstappen will still encounter difficulties with Perez. "He already has a lot of experience in motorsport. He has been through a lot. There is constant pressure on him," Mucke explained in a conversation with Formel1.de.
What can Perez do at Red Bull?
"When it really matters, he knows how to focus and bring the right speed. When he's in the car, he knows exactly what to do". The former team boss saw that when Perez was still racing in the junior classes. Now Perez has grown and made his dream move to a top team. At Red Bull, he has a good chance of a podium finish, as Verstappen demonstrated many times last year.
Alexander Albon also showed twice in 2020 that a podium is possible with a Red Bull, but it was not enough to stay. Mucke thinks he knows why: ''When you are a rookie or in your second year with Verstappen as your teammate, you don't get very far. Perez has the experience and he knows what to do against Verstappen. Perez is mentally strong. It will be an interesting duel."
If it is up to Mucke, we will see Perez on the podium more often next season. "He is a talent. He used to be. He was still a young boy who had to be formed. He's definitely one of the great talents in Formula 1, I'm sure," concludes Perez's former team boss.