In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, few positions carry as much pressure and scrutiny as being Max Verstappen’s teammate. The path for drivers like Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon illustrates the immense challenge, and in 2022, Sergio Perez faced this formidable task head-on. Once the now-double world champion builds momentum, matching his pace and performance often appears to be a near-impossible feat. Perez, however, began the 2022 season with renewed optimism, having spent the entirety of 2021 insisting that the new generation of cars would allow him to close the gap to his highly acclaimed teammate. For a significant part of the season, his predictions held true, promising a thrilling battle that ultimately evolved into a complex narrative of triumphs, setbacks, and underlying team dynamics.
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A Promising Start: Closing the Gap in the New Era
The dawn of the 2022 season, with its radical new technical regulations, offered a fresh slate for all teams and drivers. Sergio Perez, invigorated by the belief that the revamped machinery would better suit his driving style, immediately demonstrated a palpable improvement in pace and confidence. The season opener in Bahrain provided an early glimpse of his potential; Perez qualified an impressive fourth, keeping the quicker Ferraris and his teammate well within his sights. Tragically, a fuel pump issue mirroring Verstappen’s own retirement on the final lap robbed him of a certain podium finish, denying Red Bull a strong points haul to kick off their championship campaign. Despite the bitter disappointment, the raw speed and strong qualifying performance were clear indicators of the progress Perez had made.
Red Bull, still reeling from the Bahrain double DNF, struck back with formidable resolve in Saudi Arabia. This weekend marked a historic moment for Perez, who, after an astonishing 215 Grand Prix starts, finally secured his maiden pole position. It was a masterful qualifying lap that outmanoeuvred both Verstappen and the formidable Ferrari duo, showcasing Perez’s ability to perform under pressure. He then converted his pole into a strong lead in the early phase of the race, commanding the front until an ill-timed Safety Car, triggered by Nicholas Latifi’s crash, presented a strategic gift to his rivals. This unfortunate turn of events cost Perez the lead and ultimately a potential victory, yet his performance served as a powerful declaration of intent, affirming his capability to challenge at the very front.
One of the primary reasons Red Bull brought Perez into their fold was his proven ability to support Verstappen and capitalize on opportunities when his teammate faced difficulties. This strategic investment paid dividends almost immediately. When Verstappen’s car faltered for a second time in Melbourne, Perez was there to collect a valuable 18 points for the team, meticulously vacuuming up the opportunity. Perhaps the sweetest moment for Red Bull during the early season came at Imola, Ferrari’s home turf. In a commanding display, Perez chased Charles Leclerc relentlessly throughout the race, expertly taking advantage of the Ferrari driver’s late spin to secure Red Bull’s first one-two finish of the season. This crucial result not only highlighted Perez’s prowess but also underscored his vital role in Red Bull’s championship aspirations, demonstrating his capacity to act as a formidable wingman and a potent points-scorer.
Mid-Season Dynamics: Team Orders, Triumph, and Tension
Despite the season still being relatively young and Perez showing exceptional form, a controversial incident unfolded in Barcelona. After a rare mistake saw Verstappen slide off the circuit, dropping behind his teammate, just 19 points separated the two Red Bull drivers in the championship standings. Yet, the team issued instructions to Perez, asking him to allow Verstappen to pass, not once, but twice. While Verstappen’s subsequent pace did suggest he was indeed the quicker driver on that particular day, the incident reignited discussions among cynics about Red Bull’s perceived “number one” and “number two” driver hierarchy, potentially undermining Perez’s burgeoning confidence and independent ambitions within the team.
However, in a clear demonstration of appreciation for his contributions, Red Bull announced a contract extension for Perez until 2024, just days before the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. As if to validate their faith, Perez delivered a vital victory in the principality. This triumph was largely thanks to a brilliant strategic call by his team, who expertly navigated the notoriously tricky street circuit conditions. The victory, however, was not without its own lingering controversy, specifically regarding the nature of a qualifying spin that had secured him third on the grid ahead of Verstappen the day prior. Regardless, the Monaco win was a significant career highlight, catapulting Perez into a seemingly genuine championship contention and marking him as a credible threat for the title.
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As Ferrari’s championship challenge began to unravel through a series of strategic missteps and reliability woes, Perez capitalized in Baku, securing an easy second place. Yet, the margin to Verstappen, who crossed the finish line a full 20 seconds ahead, was a stark reminder of the reigning champion’s pace advantage. The Canadian Grand Prix brought further misfortune; while a hydraulics failure eight laps into the race was beyond his control, his starting position of 13th following a Q2 crash on a wet track was certainly his responsibility. Despite these setbacks, Perez showcased his fighting spirit at Silverstone, recovering from an early front wing change after contact with Leclerc. He then engaged in a thrilling three-way battle with Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, ultimately clinching second place in a contest that many still regard as one of the season’s most captivating duels.
Losing Momentum: The Mid-Season Slump and Verstappen’s Dominance
After a promising start and a flash of strong performances in the early phase of the season, Perez’s momentum began to wane significantly. Over the subsequent six rounds, he would only manage to secure a single additional podium finish. Sometimes, this was through no fault of his own, such as at the Red Bull Ring, where his race was effectively ruined by contact with George Russell. However, at the very next race in Paul Ricard, Russell again became his nemesis, skillfully poaching a podium position from under Perez’s nose following a late Virtual Safety Car restart, a moment that underscored a growing pattern of missed opportunities.
By this point in the season, any realistic chance of Perez mounting a sustained challenge for the world championship was visibly evaporating with each passing weekend. The starkest illustration of this widening gap came at Spa. Perez qualified third but inherited second place on the grid due to a penalty for his teammate. Yet, despite starting 12 positions behind him, Verstappen carved through the field with breathtaking speed, not only catching but decisively passing Perez for the lead before even making his first pit stop. This race served as a brutal and undeniable demonstration of Verstappen’s superior pace and the formidable challenge Perez faced in attempting to match his teammate’s outright speed and consistency, especially as the car’s development continued throughout the season, seemingly favoring Verstappen’s driving preferences.
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Resilience and Late-Season Victories: A Fighter’s Spirit
The final phase of the season saw Perez settle into a familiar pattern. While he rarely threatened the fight for the very front of the field, largely due to his teammate’s monopolization of the top step, he continued to demonstrate his capability for battling for wins when opportunities arose. Mercedes’ resurgence in the latter half of the season intensified the competition at the sharp end, but even amidst this heightened pressure, Perez proved his mettle.
A rare qualifying fumble from Verstappen’s side of the garage in Singapore provided Perez with a golden opportunity. Starting second alongside Leclerc, he launched off the line brilliantly, beating the Ferrari into Turn 1 and leading the entire race in challenging wet-to-dry conditions. He secured his second victory of the season, albeit after expertly managing a five-second post-race penalty, showcasing his exceptional race craft and composure under pressure. He followed this with another strong performance at Suzuka, where he fought hard to claim second place on the final lap, benefiting from a penalty incurred by Leclerc for illegally holding position at the final chicane. These late-season victories were vital for Perez, reaffirming his ability to win races and secure significant points for the team when the circumstances aligned.
The Battle for Second: A Disappointing Close
With Verstappen having already secured his second world championship, the focus for Perez shifted to securing second place in the drivers’ standings, a significant achievement that would mark Red Bull’s first 1-2 in the championship. However, for the remainder of the season, Perez consistently failed to finish ahead of Verstappen in competitive sessions. At his home race in Mexico, despite the fervent support of his fans, he was ultimately out-paced by Lewis Hamilton and forced to settle for a third-place finish.
The Brazilian Grand Prix brought a particularly embarrassing and controversial moment for Perez. After allowing Verstappen to pass him – a decision aimed at enabling his teammate to challenge for higher positions – Verstappen then refused a direct team instruction to allow Perez back through on the final lap. This incident created significant internal friction within the team, publicly highlighting the complexities of team orders and loyalty, and undeniably impacting Perez’s morale and trust in his teammate.
Heading into the final weekend of the season in Abu Dhabi, Perez had a clear objective: finish ahead of Charles Leclerc to clinch second place in the championship. Opting for an aggressive two-stop strategy, he pushed relentlessly, but Leclerc’s one-stop pace on the hard tires proved just too strong and consistent. Perez crossed the finish line for the final time of the season just over a second behind the Ferrari driver, relinquishing the coveted second spot. While the result itself might have seemed minor in the grand scheme of the championship, losing P2 would undoubtedly have provided a psychological blow, denying him a significant boost with which to head into the long off-season.
Conclusion: A Season of Growth, Challenges, and Unanswered Questions
Sergio Perez’s second year at the front of the Formula 1 grid was, without doubt, superior to his debut season with Red Bull. He demonstrated greater consistency, avoiding any outstandingly poor weekends, and significantly improved his ability to keep pace with his formidable teammate. His three victories, including the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, showcased his talent and capacity to perform under pressure, proving invaluable to Red Bull’s constructors’ championship triumph.
However, as the 2022 season progressed, a familiar pattern emerged: the gap to Max Verstappen, particularly in race pace and adaptability to car developments, widened. Perez’s mid-season slump and his ultimate failure to secure second place in the drivers’ championship highlighted a persistent challenge in sustaining a season-long fight against one of the sport’s most dominant forces. While he has proven to be an exceptional team player and a capable race winner, his 2022 campaign, despite its highs, did little to invite widespread confidence that he possesses the ability to consistently challenge Verstappen for a world title over his remaining two years with the team. The question lingers: can Sergio Perez truly bridge that gap, or will he remain the best of the rest in Verstappen’s formidable shadow?
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