MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 29: Race winner Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 29, 2022 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Sergio Perez is coming into the French GP after a disappointing previous outing – having registered a DNF in Austria
Sergio Perez is eagerly looking forward to racing at the French GP, set to take place from 22-24 July. Perez has made a good start to this year’s championship – his best-ever in Formula 1, which sees him in third place in the drivers’ championship. However, the Mexican is coming into the race after a DNF in Austria which saw him drop from second place to third on the drivers’ championship leaderboard.
Perez, though, is facing a battle at Red Bull as their recent upgrades have given the RB18 a sharper front end, that’s more to Verstappen’s likening. Speaking ahead of Friday’s practice session, Perez said – “Well, it’s just going away from me in terms of how comfortable I was in the beginning. But saying that, I’ve had only two races and last weekend I wasn’t up to it, I was feeling pretty bad, so I think this is the first weekend where I will see really.”
The Mexican driver will line up on the French GP grid 57 points behind leader Verstappen and 19 points behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship. Perez has bagged just one race victory compared to Verstappen’s six. Perez has three DNFs on the board this season. He has some catching up to do and would be eager to turn things around at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Red Bull dominates the drivers’ championship standings despite a disappointing outing for Sergio Perez in Austria. Max Verstappen leads the standings with 208 points. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has overtaken Perez and now occupies second place with 170 points. Perez lies third with 151 – ahead of Carlos Sainz, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton.
In the constructors’ championship, Red Bull leads the table with 359 points, and Ferrari is significantly behind in second place with 303 points. Mercedes are further behind – they occupy third place, having earned 237 points.
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