Red Bull now "much stronger opponent" with Perez - Wolff
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff expects Red Bull to be a "much stronger opponent" in 2021 after signing Sergio Perez to partner Max Verstappen.
Red Bull announced the signing of one-time grand prix winner Perez last month after opting to drop Alexander Albon following a difficult second season in F1.
Albon regularly struggled to match Verstappen's form, picking up just two podium finishes all season. Verstappen scored two wins and nine further podiums, accruing more than double Albon's points total.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said following the announcement that he thought Perez "deserved" the Red Bull seat and would make the team more of a threat in the constructors' championship.
Mercedes team boss Wolff agreed with Hamilton's assessment, feeling Red Bull would pose a greater challenge to Mercedes in 2021 thanks to its revised driver line-up and with an extra push from power unit partner Honda.
"Definitely, I think Red Bull, with Perez, will be a much stronger opponent in terms of the constructors' championship," Wolff said in an interview with Austrian TV channel ORF.
"I reckon Sergio will be very strong. It will also be interesting to see how Perez holds up against Verstappen. It's a new opponent.
"Otherwise, it's a season with the same cars as last year. I think Honda will really step on the gas to compete for the championship in their last year as a manufacturer.
"That's why it will be quite interesting."
Perez was able to outscore Albon last year despite having a less competitive car with Racing Point and missing two races, having contracted COVID-19 ahead of the British Grand Prix.
The Mexican went on to claim his maiden F1 win at the Sakhir Grand Prix, capitalising on setbacks for Mercedes junior George Russell as he stood in for Hamilton after his own positive COVID-19 test.
The immediate level of performance from Russell prompted Red Bull chief Christian Horner to recently make comments about how strong the Mercedes car was, and that it proved just how good Verstappen was to compete with them in lesser machinery.
Wolff said that Horner's "teasing" was "part of the game" in F1, and that it would only be possible to truly compare drivers in evenly-matched cars.
"You can only judge the best if you let them race against each other," Wolff said.
"We haven't seen that yet. We haven't seen Verstappen against Hamilton, we haven't seen Russell against Hamilton, we haven't seen [Charles] Leclerc in a top car.
"But the future belongs to the young. At some point they will race against each other with the same equipment and then we will see who is the best."
Related video
Previous article
Ferrari’s Leclerc turns first laps of F1 2021 at Fiorano
Next article
Podcast: What 2021 tech rules mean for F1
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Sergio Perez |
| Teams | Red Bull Racing |
| Author | Luke Smith |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
Aston Martin is back to F1
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
The mantra Ocon must follow to challenge Alonso at Alpine
OPINION: It's been an uneasy ride for Esteban Ocon since his F1 comeback - and fresh challenges lie in wait as he's joined by double world champion Fernando Alonso in the newly rebranded Alpine team. STUART CODLING sets out a roadmap to success…
