While Perez’s teammate Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship, Sergio Perez is currently in eighth place. A disappointing haul of 19 points over the last five races has caused Red Bull to fall behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, putting them at risk of being challenged by Ferrari in third.

The recent one-two finish by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the United States Grand Prix has minimized the gap, with Ferrari now only eight points behind Red Bull. “Having Ferrari in the mix doesn’t change anything,” Perez said on Thursday. “Our goal is to win the Constructors’ title, so finishing second or third doesn’t make a difference. We are fully focused on winning, which requires both cars to perform at their best and have the best package possible.”

Red Bull’s position in the Constructors’ Championship largely depends on Perez’s performance, as he has not finished on the podium since the Chinese Grand Prix. Perez personally believes that this weekend in Mexico could be a turnaround for him, as he will be racing in front of a home crowd.

“I understand that I’ve had a tough season, one that’s been very challenging,” he admitted. “It started well, but then things got difficult. A solid result in Mexico could significantly change my season, so I’m really motivated for it.”

Improving his performance is crucial not only for the 2024 season but also for Perez’s future with the team. Although he has a contract with Red Bull for next year, his seat is under threat, with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda being possible candidates.

One of the problems Perez faces is his struggle to adapt to the RB20, even though he said that since the Italian GP, he and the team have made progress. “We’re working on resolving the issues,” he explained. “We identified a major problem in Monza and believed we were on the right track. I think we are moving in the right direction.”

“In Formula 1, sometimes the results don’t come as expected. You just have to stay focused on what you can control and not let the rest affect you.”