Ralf: Perez has closed the gap to Verstappen

Development will decide Red Bull-Ferrari battle says Hakkinen

Red Bull don’t want to ‘lose’ Gasly

Ferrari provide ironic twist in Mercedes engine battle

Formula 1 has confirmed Las Vegas for 2023

Hamilton feels 'a long way away' from Red Bull-Ferrari

Miami GP dates confirmed

Gap to midfield gives Mercedes scope to ‘experiment’

Sergio Perez deserved more from 'amazing' performance

McLaren admit MCL36 has 'fundamental problems'

Is Mick feeling the pressure from Magnussen?

Worrying signs for woeful Williams

Palmer on Verstappen's 'nuisance' tactic

Ralf Schumacher has spotted a noticeable change for the better in Sergio Perez’s performance with the all-new Red Bull RB18.

A car designed from scratch to conform with F1’s much-changed regulations was always likely to help Perez in comparison to his team-mate, Max Verstappen.

The reigning World Champion had been much more familiar with last year’s RB16B, a continuation of its predecessor, whereas Perez was completely new to the Red Bull team in 2021.

Consequently, the Mexican frequently found himself off Verstappen’s pace, most markedly in qualifying, but the 32-year-old has made a more promising start in that respect this season.

In only the second race of the current campaign, Perez put his car on pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Verstappen only fourth, a quarter of a second down on his colleague.

The tables were turned in the race, however, as Verstappen won from the two Ferraris, with Perez down in fourth having been hugely hindered by the timing of a Safety Car period just after he had made a pit-stop whereas his rivals benefited following Nicholas Latifi’s crash.

Nevertheless, Sky Germany pundit Schumacher is impressed by the progress Perez has made so