Sergio Perez's former manager Adrian Fernandez has urged his countryman to "step up a gear" this season as Red Bull will need two front-running drivers to fend off its rivals.
Perez delivered two race wins to his team last year – in Monaco and in Singapore – but that track record pales in comparison to teammate Max Verstappen's 15 wins in 2022.
The Mexican driver was in contention to finish second in the Drivers' standings behind Verstappen but failed to secure the runner-up spot which went to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Nevertheless, Fernandez believes that Perez acquitted himself well last season, but the former IndyCar driver says the Red Bull charger needs to take his game to the next level in 2023.
"Checo is performing well," Fernandez told the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com. "The problem is that Verstappen is driving next to him.
"Checo is an excellent driver and now very experienced. But now he has to find out what Max does differently from him.
"Max has of course been driving for Red Bull for some time and the team is built around him. Considering that, Checo is certainly not doing wrong and is probably doing exactly what the team wants him to do.
“But he will soon have to step up a gear. And I think he knows that too.
"Red Bull was very strong last year, but if the competition is closer next season, it will be even more important for the team to have two drivers at the front."
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The 32-year-old charger from Guadalajara knows that lack of consistence will always weigh heavily on a campaign, especially in one fought against the ultra-steady and persistent Max Verstappen.
Fernandez agrees and says that consistency is precisely the area where Perez needs to improve.
"Max is just on a different level," he said. "He is of the calibre of Senna, Schumacher and Hamilton.
"I believe in Checo’s ability, but to get to that level, he will have to take a big step.
"And I’m not so much talking about how he drives, but more about how he works with the engineers to get the car to his liking and his consistency throughout the season.
"Being fastest over a lap once, finishing a session on top or winning a race, it’s all well and good but if you’re going for the championship you’re going to have to be strong all season.
"Look at Valtteri Bottas. He spent years in the best car, but failed to become champion. The difference between him and Lewis? Consistency. That is what makes champions so special."
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