A year after his victory in the principality, the Mexican returns on Sunday with a new status.
Steep streets and safety rails closest to the track along the harbour, welcome to Monaco’s iconic circuit, located right in the heart of the city. In F1, the street circuit specialist is called Sergio Pérez. The Mexican arrives, Sunday, May 28, in the Principality with the status of defending champion.
Monaco, a route that suits him
With five victories in as many Grands Prix this season, Red Bull flies over the debates. If Max Verstappen won three, his teammate won the other two in Jeddah and Baku, the two street circuits. City races have become Sergio Pérez’s specialty and the statistics prove it. Of the 29 podiums achieved in his career, 34% have been on this type of circuit and of his six victories in F1, five have been obtained in the city. The latest? Baku, on April 30, where the pilot had recognized a certain ease. “I’ve always enjoyed this place, it’s true, he admitted after the race. It’s a track that suits my style well and that helped me to shine a little more than elsewhere.” A route which, like in Monaco, has the particularity of being cramped and lacking visibility in the bends. On the circuit of the principality, the coating is more imperfect than in other classic circuits, which is not to displease “Checo”.
“He is a driver who has a very big commitment. He knows very well how to get out of these delicate situations, not necessarily optimal conditions for urban circuits”. analyzes Cyril Abiteboul, former Renault team principal.
“He is someone who has a very good judgment to find the limit of acceptable risk-taking because excessive risk is eliminatory in Monaco.
Cyril Abiteboulat Franceinfo: sports
Without a release zone, one of the particularities of the Monegasque circuit, the slightest error is fatal. “You need the combination of a car that is a little harder to drive with risk taking that must always be optimal”. adds the ex-boss of the French team.
In his former team, Force India, which later became Racing Point, Sergio Pérez had already shown his ability to adapt by winning his first Formula 1 victory in Sakhir in December 2020. “He didn’t have a simple car but it was a team in which Pérez excelled and not only in street circuits”, recalls Cyril Abiteboul.
A driver with full confidence at Red Bull
This year, Sergio Pérez has never looked so strong. With a Red Bull more powerful than the others, the second in the championship is full of confidence. “Confidence is a lot of things, in Monaco it is more important than in any other Grand Prix because the circuit is very short and the gaps are extremely small”, decrypts Cyril Abiteboul. On Sunday, Sergio Perez will be among the favourites. But in Monaco more than elsewhere, it’s on Saturday that everything is decided. “To win in Monaco, you have to qualify in front because on this circuit it is very difficult to overtake in the race”explains the French engineer.
With the best car in the paddock and his taste for urban racing, the Mexican has every chance of shining again on the tricky Monaco track. And, why not, to challenge the world title to his teammate Max Verstappen.