Sergio Perez Must Deliver A Strong Canadian GP

One of the most under-appreciated facts about the Canadian Grand Prix especially with reference to Sergio Perez is that it was here in 2012 where Perez picked up a valiant podium. But then, what is so special about that, one might argue?

Truth be told, back in 2012, where the F1 grid had multiple world champions in the form of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, Sergio Perez secured a podium, a P3, upon his maiden appearance at the then Canadian Grand Prix.

It was a special effort on the part of the driver who was then competing under the Sauber banner; those were the days of Kamui Kobayashi and so on and so forth.

But in the years that have followed, Sergio Perez hasn’t really set the track on fire so to speak at Montreal, home to the Canadian Grand Prix.

From 2013 until 2015, strange as it may seem, Sergio Perez delivered identical results in the from of eleventh aka P11 here in Canada. A tenth, fifth and then, a fourteenth marked his results at the venue but with Sahara Force India, which soon became Racing Point.

The 2018 and 2019 results for Perez were rather disappointing, to say the least. And more recently, as seen in the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix, Sergio Perez race retired in the contest, following it up with a lukewarm P6 as seen last year.

For the lack of better expression, perhaps it’s fair to say that Perez hasn’t really fired for Red Bull where it comes to Canada. But then, this is exactly the reason why he ought to deliver a cracker of a race, not to forget, forge a strong fight with which to refresh his bid to fight Max Verstappen for the world championship, a contest where he’s been clearly out of form while the rest, including- Norris, Sainz and Leclerc have all caught up.

Not a driver who’s contesting with unrelenting pace and definitely not one who seems the most confident (at least) at the moment, Perez finds himself languishing, if one might use the expression, on fifth where the 2024 Driver’s Standings matter.

But with a new contract extension that commits him to Red Bull until further notice, Sergio Perez must be feeling that something’s going right for him, even if those are not race results exactly. What he would also do well to remember is that despite Max Verstappen demonstrating absolutely mastery over Montreal by winning here last year, it was Perez who set the Grand Prix’s fastest lap, which occurred on lap#70.

Can he do something special here? And to keep sarcasm at arm’s distance, it would definitely mean find a way to get to Q3 first. Don’t you agree?

Having said that, two teams that could well pose a few tough questions to Red Bull as the race weekend dawns upon us happen to be Ferrari and McLaren, of course. Two of the last three wins have gone their way and not Red Bull’s, which is enough food for thought at the moment. So what can you do, Mr. Checo?