BARRETTO: Is Sergio Perez a genuine World Championship contender this year?

Sergio Perez sits just one point behind Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings after arguably the most impressive of his five Grand Prix victories at last weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. But is the Mexican, a veteran of 237 Grand Prix starts, now a genuine title contender?

Perez was as relaxed as I’ve ever seen him last year when we chatted on the sofas in a corner of Red Bull’s floating motorhome. He had scored three second places in six races and was just 25 points adrift of Verstappen in the standings. That became 15 after a brilliant win in Monaco. It was a strong start to the season and the closest he’s been to a title contender.