F1 News: Red Bull Insider Delivers Crushing Blow To Sergio Perez - "If It Had Been Other Way Around, Max Would've Come P2"

Red Bull test driver Rudy van Buren has analysed the difference between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

Red Bull test driver Rudy van Buren has given an insight into the stark difference between Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen during the Spanish Grand Prix. 

Verstappen managed to pull off an incredible grand slam by winning the race from pole position, leading every lap of the race, and securing the fastest lap. On top of this, he also topped the timesheets during all three practice sessions. Perez on the other hand, was eliminated from qualifying during Q2 so started from eleventh and ended up in fourth position. 

During an interview with Motorsport.com, van Buren commented:

“I think these are the dream weekends.

“P1, P1, P1, P1, so to speak.

“Max is apparently feeling really good and the package is just good. So yeah, how much better can it be yet? Yes, no? This is him.”

When speaking after the race, the Mexican driver explained that took too many risks. Comparing Perez's drive to Verstappen's in Miami where he started from ninth and managed to go on to win the race, van Buren continued:

“If we take the example of Max in Miami, he didn’t do that either [take risks]. And then he ticked them off one by one.

“I think if it had been the other way around, Max would have come to P2.”

One funny moment picked up by many fans was between Verstappen and his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. The two-time champion was being asked not to push as he had been shown the black-and-white flag for track limits and was at risk of getting a five-second penalty. However, Verstappen had different ideas as he continued to push and set another fastest lap.

Van Buren joked about the moment:

“Boys will be boys. You can already hear him talking, and GP also knows it. It is a back and forth game after all.

“It was exactly the same in the Vettel years. ‘No, we are not going to do it.’ 'I don’t understand you well.' And then do it anyway. As long as they have it under control, this is just laughter.”

Verstappen further extended his lead in the drivers' championship with 53 points now separating him from Perez. Van Buren commented on the gap:

“Effectively, the gap is two complete victories plus the fastest lap.

“Only the season is also long. Anything can happen.

“Are two failures a lot? No, not at all. It can also go against the odds, so that the gap is gone in one go.

“But the package is good, and as I said at the beginning: Max apparently feels very good. You can see that in everything. So yes, he is just good for it.”