Sergio Perez expects to be making Red Bull changes in the first five races of the 2021 Formula 1 season to make himself feel physically comfortable.
Perez has completed his first on-track running with his new team this week, first with a two-day test in the 2019 RB15 and then with some mileage in its new 2021 car, the RB16B.
He said after the RB15 test that he and the team had already conducted a lot of work with his seat fit and pedal positioning, and worked on his familiarity with his engineers and Red Bull’s working practices.
But speaking after his role in the RB16B’s shakedown, Perez said the goal this week had been to get him comfortable enough so “when we go to Bahrain it is not something that we have to be concerned by”.
He admitted there was still plenty to do and that he would spend the first part of the season chasing improvements.
“It takes a lot of time to be 100% comfortable and I expect myself to be doing changes in the first five races of getting very comfortable with the car,” he said.
“But I have to say that we’ve done a lot of progress on that.
“We’ve changed the seat, we have adjusted the belts.
“Every time we’re doing something different so that’s the priority to get me comfortable with it.
“So, when we get to Bahrain, we are ready to kick some ass.”
Pre-season testing begins in Bahrain on March 12, lasting only three days. The first round of season takes place at the Sakhir circuit two weeks later.
Perez has previously said that testing and the first race being held at the same venue is a boost for him, given the reduced amount of official pre-season testing, as he adjusts to his huge career opportunity at Red Bull.
The 31-year-old has moved from Racing Point after being ousted by the team for its new Aston Martin era, despite becoming a race winner last season and finishing fourth in the championship.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said Perez has settled in “very well” but agreed the test in the RB15 had been a useful exercise to expedite his familiarisation.
“I think for Checo, having driven for one team for so long, inevitably there’s going to be quite a lot of differences even just in procedure, the way that we operate,” said Horner.
“So any mileage that we’ve been able to give him is of huge value as he gets to know his new engineering team, how the mechanics work, how our meetings work, what’s required of him as a Red Bull driver.
“I think it’s been invaluable, these last couple of days, for him.”
Perez has replaced Alex Albon alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull. He is the third driver Red Bull has turned to since Daniel Ricciardo left after the 2018 season.
Had Red Bull not chosen Perez over Albon, who has been demoted to reserve driver, the Mexican would have likely spent 2021 on the sidelines completely.
Perez, whose only other major chance in F1 has been his move to McLaren in 2013 for what turned out to be the start of the team’s decline, has described his Red Bull shot as a dream come true and something he is determined to maximise.
Horner said: “He’s been around for a while, he’s a popular member in the paddock and I think that you can see why.
“He’s an easy guy to get along with.
“He’s doing all his homework, he’s been working hard over the winter. He’s really grabbing this opportunity with both hands.”
