After the weak Formula 1 qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, the pressure on world championship runner-up Sergio Perez is increasing, the Mexican making a big error in Spain sending the Red Bull off into the gravel during a critical phase of the session.

“He has to concentrate more on driving again, not on world championship titles and so on. I hope he finds his way again,” Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko told Sky.

Mexican Perez had only finished eleventh in Saturday’s qualifying session and goes into Sunday’s race in Barcelona far behind Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.

Perez fancied himself in title contention with Verstappen after two wins this season, but had to cope with some sporting dampeners in Spain, as he did in Monaco a week ago.

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Marko highlights big gap compared to Verstappen

“The whole weekend was actually between three and five tenths of a second behind. That carried through,” Marko said of Perez’s gap to dominant defending champion Verstappen, who raced to a commanding first place on the grid.

“You can rely on Max. He shows the potential from the car,” Marko praised the two-time champion.

However, Perez does not have to fear any consequences, even a replacement of the 33-year-old during the season is currently not an issue.

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Marko: “Perez is psychologically on a World Championship dream trip”

“This is now the second race weekend that is not going well. He was psychologically on a World Championship dream trip and this is now a relatively tough wake-up,” said Marko, adding, “Nevertheless, we know what he can do. I’m sure he will bounce back.”

Perez had slid into the gravel in Barcelona after a driving error and subsequently retired in just the second qualifying section as he failed to make the top ten.

Verstappen leads the championship standings by 39 points ahead of Perez before the seventh round of the season in Catalonia. Verstappen had already triumphed in Barcelona last year and is once again considered a big favourite. Perez will still try to make it onto the podium but it will be a tough ask with all the teams being so close on performance lap time.

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