He talked a massive game during the opening races, but he’s failed to get into Q3 at half the races so far. It’s incredible how Verstappen just stomps everyone thrown into the other car, young or experienced, and in every area. I honestly don’t think Checo “the tyre whisperer” Perez is better than Ver at tyre-saving, nor strategy, nor raw pace…
Is there anyone who RB would feasibly replace Per with? Maybe Norris? I’m not a huge fan personally, but I know he’s got plenty of cachet at the moment.
I think your logic is slightly flawed. If your driver is aiming to be second best, then they’re already spent. You can’t have Perez out there looking to be just slightly worse than Max. You want him to think he can win, always hovering in the vicinity, but never offering a real threat (just like Bottas).
I think the reason why Gasly and Albon failed so spectacularly is because they were both told, “don’t even try and beat Max, just get close” and they were too inexperienced and insecure to say “fuck that”.
If Checo now believes he can’t beat Max, that is probably the reason he isn’t even close to P2 anymore. Because no matter what he does, he will ascribe his failures to “not being as good as Verstappen”.