Sergio Perez had a thrilling experience during the recent race in Shanghai. He has had a promising start to his Formula 1 season in 2024, showing consistency and securing podium finishes in four out of the first five rounds. This sudden change in performance after a disappointing second half of the 2023 season has been a topic of discussion among experts. Following the Chinese Grand Prix, where Perez achieved another podium finish, the reason behind his improved performance was revealed.
Perez has had a strong start to the 2024 F1 season, displaying a different mindset and high confidence. He is no longer concerned about what Max Verstappen is doing on the track, which has positively influenced his performance. Christian Horner, the team principal, emphasized Perez’s altered mindset and approach compared to last season. These improved performances are likely to secure Perez’s position in the Red Bull team for the 2025 season.
During the race in Shanghai, Perez found himself in fourth place, trailing behind two other drivers. Given the dominance of the RB20 car, it seemed inevitable that Perez would overtake them and secure a second-place finish. However, he faced difficulties overtaking Charles Leclerc and struggled to match the pace of Lando Norris. Ultimately, Perez finished in third place, which surprised many fans and experts. Christian Horner explained that the team had to adjust their strategy to align with McLaren and Ferrari, causing Perez to spend more time overtaking Leclerc and wearing out his tires.
As a result of the safety cars and the altered strategy, Perez fell behind and was unable to catch up to Norris in the final laps of the race. Despite this, Perez currently holds second place in the driver’s championship with 85 points.