Verstappen mega-deal sparks Perez hope for Red Bull "stability"

Sergio Perez hopes he can gain "stability" and stay with Red Bull after seeing team-mate Max Verstappen be rewarded for his F1 title win with a five-year contract extension.

The Dutchman will remain with the Milton Keynes-based team through to the end of 2028 after being given the new deal, reportedly worth around €40million per year, as a reward for defeating Lewis Hamilton in last season's battle for the championship.

Perez enters his second year for the team having secured a victory and four further podiums in 2021 and asked about his own stance with Red Bull in light of Verstappen's deal, the Mexican replied: “I think when the time comes, certainly, as a driver you are looking to have some stability with your team which is also good for the team to have some continuity.

“So going forwards I am looking for a bit longer stay.”

Perez - Drivers will figure out how to operate new cars by "race 10"

F1 testing concluded on Saturday with teams and drivers still becoming accustomed to the new generation of cars.

Almost every driver struggled with understeer in low-speed corners and questioned as to how difficult it has been to adapt to new machinery, Perez explained: “I think there is so much to learn from these cars at the moment.

“Definitely the weakness comes in the low speed and medium speed. High speed seems to be fairly good compared to last year.

“I think as we go through the season, by race 10 or so we will all figure out how to best operate these cars, how to bring the balance a lot closer and you will see less of an issue.

“But at the moment, the cars are so heavy that you really feel it going into the low speed.”

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