David Coulthard has raised considerations about Sergio Perez’s return to Formulation 1, arguing that his team-mate at Cadillac, Valtteri Bottas, is “higher ready” after spending a 12 months as reserve driver for Mercedes.
Each Bottas and Perez misplaced their full-time seats within the championship on the finish of 2024. Whereas Bottas returned to his previous workforce at Mercedes as a reserve driver, Perez took a 12 months out to concentrate on household life, claiming he would solely come again to F1 if the precise alternative introduced itself.
“I do not suppose there’s something flawed with the 2 drivers they have,” Coulthard stated on the Up To Pace podcast. “It isn’t the quickest driver pairing in Formulation 1 as established by their profession to this point, however a secure pair of fingers.
“They do not should be breaking vehicles with rookies. They should be simply getting in control with the operation of the workforce and the brand new rules and issues like that. So I truly suppose they’ve made a wise selection.”
The previous driver added: “I feel Bottas is best ready as a result of he is coming with that Mercedes data. He is been working with Mercedes all final 12 months, simulator work and the likes. I am just a little bit involved for Perez, who’s actually loved the siesta of a 12 months off. I do not doubt his dedication, however can you turn it again on whenever you’ve switched it off?”
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing, Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Picture by: Joe Portlock / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
In F1, one of many important targets for a driver is to beat their team-mate. Throughout their respective stints at Mercedes and Pink Bull, Bottas and Perez performed the supporting driver position to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and four-time champion Max Verstappen. Now, the pair have the chance to be the lead driver, and Coulthard believes Bottas has a greater likelihood of beating Perez.
“They’re sufficiently old to be skilled out of the automotive. They know they’ve set to work for the better good of the workforce. However make no bones about it, their particular person groups, managers, physios, and all people that works round them… Your team-mate’s success is your failure. You have to beat your team-mate.
“And I’ve acquired to suppose if we had been laying it out now, I feel Bottas has a greater likelihood of beating Perez simply by the very fact he is newer.”
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