What Perez's Jeddah joy means for the hopes of a real F1 title fight
OPINION: Sergio Perez nearly took the 2023 Formula 1 world championship lead with his victory ahead of Max Verstappen in Jeddah. But while he was excellent there, does that mean the Red Bull driver is now a potential title contender?
"I would say arguably that was Checo's best grand prix, to be honest with you."
Christian Horner being very honest after Sergio Perez's victory in last weekend's 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. But let's definitely argue with his point. After all, neither of Perez's outstanding victories in the 2020 Sakhir GP for Racing Point nor his 2022 Singapore GP Red Bull triumph contained an awful start gaffe that allowed a slower car to seize a lead it, really, had no right to.
In the latter event, Perez actually launched so well in the slippery conditions he overtook pole-departing Charles Leclerc, then drove brilliantly around his safety car cheekiness as the Ferrari driver threw his car at every Marina Bay wall in a fruitless effort to repass. Perez was unruffled.
Share Or Save This Story
Can McLaren make the next step to challenge for F1 titles again?
The key weakness Perez showed that cemented his 2023 Verstappen Spa defeat
Hungarian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
The five challenges between Ricciardo and Perez's Red Bull F1 seat
Who will replace Hamilton on the British F1 throne?
The six key Red Bull F1 wins that highlight its evolution from 2009 to 2023
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
What we learned from Friday practice at F1's 2023 Spanish GP
WEC Imola: Ye fastest to lead Ferrari 1-2 in practice
F1 Chinese GP Sprint race: Start time, how to watch, TV channel
F1 teams and Pirelli had no warning of "painted" Shanghai track surface
Red Bull 2025 F1 driver decision will be made "much later in the year"
How a Shanghai to Sheffield journey paved the way for China’s F1 hero
Why F1 2026 worst-case fears could be key to new rules success
How the F1 driver market situation sits for each team with 2025 openings
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
