“Clear upward trend” says Helmut Marko who assesses Perez’s performance in Austin. In a season in which Red Bull has already won the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, Sergio Perez absolutely has to finish second – otherwise it will be tight for Max Verstappen’s teammate.

Although primarily Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko is one of “Checo” Perez’s chief critics, and he chose remarkably benevolent words after the US Grand Prix. A bit of a shock to be honest, considering the many column inches written of Marko being hard on the Mexican.

According to Helmut Marko, Sergio Perez made the most of his disappointing qualifying performance on Friday at the Austin Grand Prix. The Mexican went from ninth on the grid to fifth place – due to Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification he even slipped up to fourth place.

“From ninth on the grid he achieved the maximum. On the medium he drove the same lap times as Max,” said the otherwise critical Red Bull boss on “Sky”: “His racing speed was impeccable, but overtaking is insane here difficult.”

Hamilton: “I know how Verstappen’s car works”

Marko sees a “clear upward trend” in Perez

Therefore, Perez’s performance on Sunday was “satisfactory” and “a clear upward trend.” Warm words that Perez was probably only too happy to hear before his home game in Mexico next weekend. 

Marko had repeatedly increased the pressure on Perez in the past few weeks and declared second place in the drivers’ standings as his clear goal. In Austin, the disqualification of Lewis Hamilton played into his hands: The Brit remains third with 201 points, Perez now has 240 points. After the Mexican GP, ​​Perez still has to compete in Brazil (November 5th), Las Vegas (November 19th) and Abu Dhabi (November 26th).

READ MORE: Horner’s scathing attack on Ted Kravitz reopens old wounds

Sergio Perez has a contract with Red Bull until 2024

“It won’t be my last contract in Formula 1,” announced the veteran. “Checo” recently said he believes he has “a few more good years to come.”

“I’m at Red Bull and I want to stay at Red Bull. But of course it has to be right for both sides.”

READ MORE: Wolff & Hamilton break silence on stunning disqualification

MORE F1 NEWS: Norris calls out Merc drivers known to be cheating

Following a controversial Sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas, McLaren driver Lando Norris has publicly called for harsher penalties in Formula One.

Norris claims that the FIA’s lenient approach to rule-breaking, particularly when it comes to…READ MORE ON THIS STORY