16 May 2023 , 05:00
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Sergio Perez must fight dirty if he is to get the better of Max Verstappen this year – even if it gets him "thrown out" by Red Bull.
That is the view of Johnny Herbert who has been watching the battle between the two Red Bull racers so far with interest. Verstappen has won three races out of five, but Perez took victory in the other two and is only 14 points behind his team-mate.
Since he emerged as a regular Formula 1 title contender, Verstappen has not had a challenger within his own team. It remains to be seen whether Perez will be able to match him across the season but, if he can, it could be the first closely-fought title race between team-mates since 2016.
That particular fight saw Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton fight tooth and nail to beat each other. The German eventually got the better of his Mercedes partner before immediately retiring from F1, after a feud which turned ugly at times and caused a headache for team boss Toto Wolff.
So far, despite signs of tension between them dating back to last season, everything has been friendly enough between Perez and Verstappen. But Herbert thinks the Mexican is going to have to fight dirty if he is to get the better of his team-mate this year.
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"If it's your only chance, a bit like Nico, all the little things he did during his time with Lewis," the former Sky Sports pundit told the Express. "He wasn't popular within the team and his relationship with Toto I believe wasn't very good, but he got that trophy on his mantlepiece.
Overcoming Max Verstappen will take everything Perez has (Getty Images)"You can't control that. If it's your only shot, you'll do anything to get that trophy on your mantlepiece. If you get thrown out at the end of that season, that trophy is on the mantlepiece."
Herbert went on to demand Perez show the killer instinct Verstappen has shown in the past. He added: "We know Max has got that mentality and Lewis has that mentality and all the other drivers in the past who have won world championships.
"Now, it's seeing if Sergio wants to do the same thing. It's a risk that you may lose that seat – the best seat in Formula 1 at the present time – but to win a world championship? I'd go for it."