Sergio Perez has been on a difficult run of critical mistakes and a lack of raw speed throughout the season at Red Bull.
The Mexican driver headed into the Qatar Grand Prix weekend significantly 251 points behind his four-time world champion teammate Max Verstappen.
Over the season, Perez has struggled and failed to make it out of the first part of qualifying in Monaco and at the British Grand Prix.
Perez has lacked a lot of confidence this season as the Red Bull is a very particular car to drive across a season.
He began the Sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix from the pit lane after changing his suspension setup at the Lusail International Circuit.
Ted Kravitz explained on Sky Sports F1 that there was one incredibly lacklustre thing that the Mexican did in the 19-lap event.
Sergio Perez was passed by Franco Colapinto at the pit lane exit
Both Perez and Argentine driver Franco Colapinto started the Sprint in Qatar from the pit lane as both drivers changed their suspension setup.
Starting at the end of the pit lane means losing some time to the back of the field as the driver can only start the race as the final car has gone past.
Perez was very timid in the opening stages as he released the clutch without the usual urgency required at a race start.
Colapinto took advantage with some quick thinking and got around the Red Bull driver before staying ahead during the race.
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Kravtiz explained that Perez’s difficult start may take some explaining to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Helmut Marko after he pitted for a new front wing.
He said: “To turn any race into a testing session for Red Bull Racing is not what they come to the Grand Prix for. But they have to do it.
“You’ve got to say, after that slightly embarrassing overtake off the pit lane exit, there’s no more hard taskmasters Helmut Marko and Christian Horner. I hope Checo has got some problem with the clutch. You can explain that away.”
Sergio Perez hasn’t scored a podium since the Chinese Grand Prix
Perez started the season in much better form, finishing in second place behind Verstappen in the opening two rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The Red Bull driver also stood on the podium in Japan and China, but had a significant slump as Formula 1 went back to Europe.
| Grand Prix | Position |
| Miami | 4 |
| Emilia-Romagna | 8 |
| Monaco | DNF |
| Canada | DNF |
| Spain | 8 |
| Austria | 7 |
| Great Britain | 17 |
| Hungary | 7 |
| Belgium | 7 |
| Netherlands | 6 |
| Italy | 8 |
| Azerbaijan | DNF |
| Singapore | 10 |
| United States | 7 |
| Mexico | 17 |
| Brazil | 11 |
| Las Vegas | 10 |
He made a lot of errors and crashed on the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix after getting knocked out in Q1.
The Red Bull driver had a brief upturn in form in Azerbaijan but failed to finish once more. Perez is under pressure from Liam Lawson, who is driving well at RB.
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