Perez's Red Bull Finds Its Groove in Azerbaijan

Sergio Perez, the Mexican driver for the Red Bull Formula 1 team, has been facing a challenging start to the season, struggling to match the pace of his teammate Max Verstappen. However, in the latest practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Perez appears to have turned a corner, feeling more confident in his car's balance and performance.

Unlocking the Potential of the RB20

A Promising Start in Practice

Perez's performance in the second practice session on Friday was particularly impressive, as he finished just 0.006 seconds behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc for the top spot. This comes after a solid showing in the morning practice, indicating that Perez has found a sweet spot with the Red Bull RB20 car.One of the key issues Perez has faced this season has been the car's balance, with the Mexican driver often struggling to find the right setup to match Verstappen's pace. However, in Azerbaijan, Perez appears to have turned a corner, expressing his satisfaction with the car's behavior."It was definitely a good, solid day," Perez said. "I think there are some good basics. We did a good progress from FP1 to FP2, so we just have to make sure that we are able to progress from here. And I think we can definitely be in the mix for tomorrow."

Closing the Gap to Verstappen

Perez's struggles this season have been evident, with the gap between him and Verstappen ballooning to over half a second per lap at several circuits. This has led to questions about Perez's ability to adapt to the Red Bull car, but the latest practice session in Azerbaijan suggests that he may be turning a corner.When asked if he was feeling more confident in the RB20 after some of the changes made in recent weeks, Perez responded positively, saying, "Yes, I think we are heading in the right direction. We're finding that we can put the car a little bit more together."While Perez acknowledges that there is still a long way to go, the progress made in Azerbaijan is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. With the team's continued efforts to fine-tune the car, Perez may be able to close the gap to Verstappen and become a more consistent threat at the front of the grid.

Verstappen's Confidence Boost

Interestingly, Verstappen also seemed more satisfied with his car's behavior in Azerbaijan, despite finishing sixth in the second practice session. The Dutchman, who topped the first practice, acknowledged that the team had made progress in the background, which he believes will continue to pay dividends."I think overall, a good day. We learned quite a bit. Now it's just about tidying up the things that we tried," Verstappen said. "But I think so far, yeah, we have been more competitive this weekend, so that's a positive."Verstappen's comments suggest that the Red Bull team has been working hard to address the car's issues, and the improvements are starting to show on the track. With both drivers feeling more confident in the car's performance, the team may be poised to challenge for the top positions in the upcoming race.

Visibility Concerns Addressed

One interesting aspect that emerged during the practice session was Verstappen's struggle with visibility issues due to the changing light conditions. The world champion reported that he had issues with the size of his visor stickers, which caused glare and reduced his visibility, particularly as the sun set over the Caspian Sea.Verstappen's ability to communicate these issues and the team's willingness to address them is a testament to the strong collaboration within the Red Bull organization. By fine-tuning the car's setup and addressing the driver's concerns, the team is positioning itself to maximize its performance on race day.Overall, the practice session in Azerbaijan has provided a glimmer of hope for Perez and the Red Bull team. With the car's balance and performance seemingly improving, and both drivers feeling more confident, the stage is set for an exciting race weekend in Baku.