Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Alain Prost believes Sergio Perez is facing an “almost impossible mission” to achieve a title while paired alongside Max Verstappen.
After the opening four rounds of the 2023 campaign, Verstappen and Perez took two wins apiece.
It led to suggestions that the duo would be facing off for the title this year.
However, Perez has since had a troubling run of form and now sits 53 points adrift of the Dutchman, who has won the last three races.
Prost has provided Perez with advice on how to navigate a potential championship battle against his team-mate.
“A driver’s game is always to try and tip the balance in his favour, whether it’s the set-up of the car or the contribution of the team. And that’s where Perez is wrong,” the four-time World Champion told L’Equipe.
“He needs to make Max Verstappen doubt him and change Red Bull’s mind about him.
“As we know, Perez is tackling an almost impossible mission. And in order to achieve it, he must above all not shout so loudly about his desire to beat Max.”
Recently, Perez’s father compared Perez’s battle against Verstappen to Prost’s rivalry with Ayrton Senna – known as one of the most intense conflicts in F1 history.
Prost, however, brushed off the comment.
“His entourage isn’t helping him either,” Prost said.
“When I read a month ago that his father told journalists that his fight with Max was similar to the one I had with Ayrton, it’s pointless and counterproductive.”
Perez has been on the podium just once in the last three races, and failed to score points in Monaco after crashing out in qualifying.
