Sitting with the assembled journalists at a high table in Red Bull’s hospitality unit at Zandvoort last Thursday, Sergio Pérez seemed lighter than usual.
Formula One’s summer break does the whole paddock a world of good. For the drivers, it’s the chance to put aside the competitive stresses that come with their territory for a couple of weeks. They can spend less time on planes and more time with their families, friends and loved ones.
The break was important for Pérez. He’d been through a tricky first half of the season. Four races in, Pérez had been tied with Verstappen for wins this year, and the potential for an intra-Red Bull title fight provided an exciting narrative. Upon F1’s return at Zandvoort eight races later, Verstappen was 10-2 up on his teammate (no other team has won a race). Another three days later, he made it 11-2 with a record-equalling ninth straight win. He’s only a few races from clinching a third world title. Pérez’s chances stopped being a talking point months ago, giving way to a focus on his struggles to even qualify inside the top 10.
For a couple of weeks, Pérez could forget about all that. He returned to his native Mexico for the summer break, where he spent a lot of time with his wife and kids, paddle boarding and ignoring the…
