F1: Perez doesn't want 'Verstappen to gift him' home win in Mexico

This weekend in Mexico, Verstappen has the chance to break Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel’s all-time record of 13 wins in a single season.

If he does that, Klien Christian Klien, a former Red Bull driver, told Kronen Zeitung newspaper “everything would have been achieved this year that could have been achieved”.

“Max may not give a damn about that, but as a team, you definitely want all those milestones.”

Indeed, another milestone would be Red Bull’s first-ever 1-2 finish in the drivers’ standings, which will require Sergio Perez finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc.

Mexican Perez, however, insists that he doesn’t want a “gift” win this weekend.

When asked what he will do if he is leading from Perez on Sunday, Verstappen answered: “I’m winning.

“In that case, he is outscoring Charles anyway, so that’s all he needs. Anyway, first we have to be that competitive.”

October 27, 2022

(GMM) Sergio Perez insists he doesn’t want back-to-back world champion Max Verstappen to “gift” him a victory at home in Mexico this weekend.

The move would not only pay the 32-year-old back for his efforts supporting Verstappen’s two title wins, Red Bull is also targeting its first ever 1-2 in the drivers’ standings.

Currently, Perez is just two points behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with just two races to go after the one in Mexico City on Sunday.

“I don’t need anyone to give me anything,” he insisted at a Red Bull event this week in Perez’s native Guadalajara.

“I raced all my life without anyone giving me a gift.”

Sergio Pérez celebrates after the Red Bull Racing Showrun 2022 in Guadalajara, México on October 25, 2022. // Jose Duch / Red Bull Content Pool

On the contrary, most fans and insiders would agree that Perez has offered significant support to Verstappen both this year and last – so much so that some have given him the nickname ‘Minister of Defense’.

“This nickname makes me laugh,” said Perez. “It has become very famous everywhere, but I like Minister of Attack better because I like attacking more than defending.

“But it is also good to have defense,” he smiled.

Generally, Perez says he is happy with his 2022 season, even though he recently hinted that he has faced discrimination in Formula 1 for his nationality.

Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing attends the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 20, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“I haven’t suffered discrimination in Formula 1 for being Latin American,” he insisted, “but if I have a good race it is not talked about as much as if I were a European driver. And if I have a bad race, there is more talk about that.

“But I am lucky to be Mexican, and it is part of the sport, so I don’t like to complain about this.

“I was a little up and down in the middle of the season when I was fighting for the championship,” Perez admitted. “With the improvements to the car I moved away a bit.

“But in general, we have had good pace, and we have been there.”

And while he doesn’t want a “gift” from Verstappen this weekend, he won’t mind if the reigning 2021 and 2022 drivers’ champion slips into a support role.

“I have no doubt that he will do what I have done for him in the past,” said Perez.

“But I will have to be perfect to win.”