Pérez joined Red Bull from Racing Point for the 2021 Formula 1 season, becoming Max Verstappen’s fourth teammate. The Mexican driver many problems in his first grand prix with the adaptation to the RB16B , characterized by being a car in which an aggressive driving style is needed, although he climbed to the top of the podium for the second time in his life in Azerbaijan, in the sixth appointment of the calendar.
The #11 finished the season in strong form, finishing in the top three in Turkey, the US and Mexico, and played a pivotal role in holding off Verstappen’s title rival Lewis Hamilton in the decisive Abu Dhabi race. .
“Checo” Pérez explained how the philosophy of the car and the lack of pre-season testing – with only three days in total for all teams in 2021 – caused its adaptation to be so complex.
“You have to keep in mind that I have arrived at a very different idea of a car from the one I have driven throughout my career,” said Pérez .
“I think in that aspect it has been a slow adaptation. A very different car, as well as the engine, so I have had to learn a lot of things with a new team and without testing.”
“Before the first race, I did a day and a half (of testing). But the whole day was just doing aero things, so I hadn’t done anything before the first grand prix.
“There are different aspects to consider, but overall I think it’s been a promising season. Obviously I would have expected more, it is what it is.”
“I just have to keep working. We’ve had some good days and some bad days, but we’ll only get stronger as a team the longer we’re together.”
Red Bull rewarded Perez’s season with a new contract for 2022 in August, ensuring continuity not seen in the energy drink structure since the days of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
This year, the teams will enjoy more pre-season tests – they go from three to six days – to adapt to the new technical regulations that will come into force in 2022.
This will give Pérez more time to familiarize himself with Red Bull, as last year he also had to deal with less free practice time compared to previous seasons due to the reduction of Friday sessions from 90 to 60. minutes.
“It will sound strange, but I lack time,” said the Mexican. “I think the limited amount of testing and practice with the car had an impact because every circuit is different.
“Getting into a different car probably made it a bit more difficult. I’m not the only one. I think we’ve seen other very good drivers struggling to catch up with their cars.”
