19 May 2023 , 17:07
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Sergio Perez will benefit from the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in his title fight against Max Verstappen.
Deadly floods in the Emilia-Romagna region have displaced thousands from their homes and placed huge strain on emergency services. F1 chiefs announced on Wednesday that this weekend's race would not go ahead and said in a statement: "It would not be right to put further pressure on the local authorities and emergency services at this difficult time."
The wording of the announcement was careful to avoid committing to the race being entirely scrapped for 2023. However, Mirror Sport understands efforts to reschedule the race for later in the season are likely to be unsuccessful given how busy the calendar is.
And the view of veteran Formula 1 team manager Peter Windsor, a former Williams and Ferrari employee, is that Perez is more likely to be the happier of the two Red Bull racers about the Imola race being called off.
In a video on his YouTube channel, he said: "What will Max be thinking? 'One less race for me to win'. Absolutely no doubt that was more of a Max circuit than a Checo circuit, so that's more of a loss for [Verstappen].
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"If these two guys are going to be very close on points getting towards the end of the year – which is a big if, of course – then Imola will be a race that Max will rue the absence of."
Sergio Perez could benefit from the Imola race being called off (Getty Images)Keeping up with Verstappen is no easy feat, but Perez has done a decent job of it so far this year. They are separated by just 14 points after the first five races of the year, the Dutchman having slightly extended his advantage last time out in Miami.
The battle has been respectful and clean so far, but Johnny Herbert thinks Perez is going to have to change that if he is to get the better of his team-mate. "If it's your only shot, you'll do anything to get that trophy on your mantlepiece. If you get thrown out at the end of that season, that trophy is on the mantlepiece," he said.
"We know Max has got that mentality and Lewis [Hamilton] has that mentality and all the other drivers in the past who have won world championships. Now, it's seeing if Sergio wants to do the same thing. It's a risk that you may lose that seat – the best seat in Formula 1 at the present time – but to win a world championship? I'd go for it."