Sergio Perez says he wouldn't be on the grid if he didn't believe he could win the world title in F1, but while fighting for the championship the Mexican knows there's still "a massive road ahead".
Perez conquered in Baku on Sunday his sixth career win in F1, his second this season, beating Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen to the checkered flag and reducing his points gap to the Dutchman in the championship to just six points.
Red Bull's current hegemony is as strong as it's ever been, and now points to a battle for the 2023 title confined to its two drivers.
Challenging Verstappen for the championship is a tall order for any driver in F1, but Perez at least has the benefit of competing against the two-time world champion with the same equipment.
And he believes he can take the championship down to the wire and ultimately prevail against his teammate and number one rival.
"I think, having three kids at home, I wouldn’t be travelling the world if I didn’t believe that I can be a World Champion," he said. "And I’m working towards that."
The Mexican reckons that without the issue that plagued his Australian Grand Prix weekend, and especially his qualifying performance in Melbourne, he would be leading the Drivers' standings.
"Obviously there is so much you can say outside the car, I think it’s important to deliver on the track, and I think without the issues we had in qualifying in Melbourne, we should be leading the championship," he continued.
"So for sure, there is everything to believe that we can do well this year."
"I'm fighting for [the championship], but I also know that it's a massive road ahead, so I need to keep my head down and just keep delivering."
©RedBull
It has been suggested that tensions crept in at Red Bull on the back of last year's Brazilian Grand prix, when Verstappen purposefully ignored a team order to let Perez through.
But the Mexican pushed back on the speculation, and spoke of a healthy emulation governing the relationship between Red bull's drivers.
"I think, to be honest, it’s a great relationship between Max and myself," he said. "Because although not many people believe, we are very similar.
"We have a life out of the sport, and when we are at home, we pretty much disconnect from it so, when we are on track, we try to do the best possible job.
"We try to beat each other. I’m sure Max will look at my data, I will look at his. And we are just pushing each other massively, and I think this year it’s about not making those mistakes."
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