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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has questioned the huge gap in quality between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, which he finds difficult to understand. A gap of 138 points currently separates the Red Bull duo in the Drivers’ Championship standings, with Verstappen simply in a league of his own.
Perez had a 15-second advantage over Verstappen at one stage during the Dutch Grand Prix, although the latter ended up winning at a canter to secure his ninth straight F1 victory. Wolff has since explained that he cannot understand why Verstappen is so much better than Perez, who has already proven himself as a driver capable of winning races.
“Odd, bizarre,” said the Mercedes boss. “Checo’s not an idiot. We have seen in all these years Checo is a Grand Prix winner, multiple Grand Prix winner, and he was at Racing Point, so I cannot comprehend.
“We’ve seen that Max has destroyed every single team-mate that was with him, whether it’s his ability to create a car around himself, that is just very tricky to control but fast if you can, and that creates those gaps. But I haven’t heard any obvious explanations. But yeah, odd.”
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Perez has only managed to beat Verstappen twice this season and will almost certainly be forced to settle for second place in the Drivers’ Championship standings. He was simply unable to keep up with the Dutchman’s pace at Zandvoort and there is no indication that Red Bull’s power dynamic will shift in his favour any time soon.
The Mexican driver came home in fourth on Sunday after crashing twice during a torrential downpour at the end of the race. His car was repaired during the subsequent red flag period but he was later given a penalty for speeding in the pits, allowing Pierre Gasly to move up into third.
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Perez remains tied down to Red Bull until the end of next year but it has recently been suggested that he could be ditched by the team when the current campaign draws to a close. However, it was confirmed by Helmut Marko after the Dutch Grand Prix that no plans are being made to relieve Perez of his duties.
Marko went on to explain that no driver on the grid is capable of matching Verstappen on current form, telling Viaplay: “We still have the confidence in him [Perez] as he has to finish in second place this season. However, he builds up the pressure entirely for himself. But yes, to be honest, everyone besides Max has a difficult life.”
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