THE DRIVER WHO ENDED THE CURSE OF RED BULL’S SECOND SEAT
For two weeks earlier this season, Sergio Perez achieved something no Red Bull driver had managed since Daniel Ricciardo in 2018. He made people, just for a moment, entertain the idea that a team-mate might have a shot at beating Max Verstappen in the standings. The Mexican outqualified his reigning champion teammate in Monaco to tee up a fine victory. Next time out in Azerbaijan, he again pipped Verstappen over a lap to snare the higher grid spot. In that window, he was more effectively mastering the ground-effect RB18 and had the momentum.
Ultimately, whatever hype there was proved short-lived. The following day in Baku, Perez showed a rare case of mismanaging his tyres and soon had to move over, enabling Verstappen to sail by for what would become the win. Since then, the assumed competitive order has been restored and now a considerable swing would be required for Perez to pip his colleague, who is 57 points ahead in the championship table. Nevertheless, a point was made. Unlike previous occupiers of the second Red Bull seat, Perez had been briefly considered in the same breath as the Dutch ace.
Verstappen’s rise to power markedly set back the grand prix careers of Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. All three were relegated from the main team to either make room for Verstappen, or for not getting close enough to him and in turn letting nearest rival Mercedes have an easier ride on its way to consecutive constructors’ championship spoils. Their
