Already in race week, the first of the 2023 season, Checo Perez He does not hide how he sees his seat: as the most difficult in all of Formula 1, since it is none other than the world champion, Max Verstappen, his first challenge to overcome.
In interview for FOX Sports México following the tests finished Bahrain, where the first Grand Prix of the year takes place on Sunday, the Mexican clarified that despite the challenges, he is increasingly finding his place in Red Bull.
“My confidence (has changed) because without a doubt I know that I have everything to take the next step, I feel more confident in the team, I find my place more and more with Red Bull because without a doubt I have, by far, the most difficult place in Formula 1.” explained.
“So every time I feel more comfortable and more confident and that is very important, and I am certainly aware that This year I have everything to take the next step”.
However, in a joking tone, he clarified that the next step is actually two, following he finished in third place last season, so to be world champion he needs to advance two positions, the same ones that they occupied Verstappen y Charles Leclerc in 2022.
“I was with my engineers in December, we had a meeting, we were in the simulator and I think we have a very good idea of what we missed, where we were wrong and I think that this is important to continue with this progression and I feel much more solid in the team”, he added.
After the 2022 season ended at the end of November, Checo went “offline” in December to enjoy his family.
“It is very important, especially in recent years I had felt more intense, changing teams, with the pandemic We always finished in the last days of December with little time to rest, So I was able to disconnect a bit”, he explained.
“Many times you forget how intense a season is, a year in Formula 1, It is very intense and demands everything from you, so the only thing I have focused on this December has been enjoying my children, my family and that has been my priority”.
However, already last weekend he achieved the fastest lap of all Formula 1 tests, despite the fact that Red Bull focused on running long distances to avoid the engine reliability problems that they suffered at the beginning of 2022.
