Perez should be 'number 2' driver

(GMM) Sergio Perez should aim to establish himself as a long-term ‘number 2’ alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

That is the advice of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, who thinks the experienced Mexican driver has made a good start to his Red Bull tenure by playing down his chances of beating Verstappen early in 2021.

“That’s very smart,” Albers told De Telegraaf. “That way, he takes a lot of pressure off himself.

“Politically he has played it perfectly. If he’s suddenly ahead of Max, let’s be honest – he’s great. So if he does it properly, I see him in the same role that Valtteri Bottas has at Mercedes.”

Perez and new teammate Verstappen stare each other down

Therefore, Dutchman Albers thinks Perez, 31, should focus on becoming a solid number 2.

“You can’t put a talent next to Verstappen – he’ll be crushed,” said the 41-year-old, who raced for Minardi and Spyker. “Daniel Ricciardo is a good example of that.

“So it’s not at all wrong to have that (number 2) attitude,” Albers insisted. “Then Red Bull will have a clear second driver and Perez can stay there for quite a long time.”