The battle for the second position in the 2023 Formula 1 drivers' standings will go down to the wire thanks to a string of inconsistent performances from Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

Since his P2 finish in Miami, the Mexican has struggled to maintain his hold on second spot, as he fends challenges from Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and, more recently, Lewis Hamilton.

Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc — Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Richard Wolverson and Charles Leclerc on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico.Image: Song Haiyuan.
Source: Getty Images

Perez's struggles were exacerbated when Hamilton significantly reduced the point gap between them, cutting it from 39 to 20 after securing a second-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix.

As Formula 1 heads to Brazil, a track that has favoured the Brit in recent times, discussions have emerged about the possibility of the seven-time world champion overtaking his Mexican counterpart in the standings.

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According to reports from GPblog, a victory for the Mercedes driver, coupled with Perez finishing lower than third place, could reshape the longstanding order of the drivers' championship.

Nonetheless, Hamilton has downplayed his chances of leapfrogging the struggling Mexican driver following his P2 finish at the race at the Autodromo Hermono Rodriguez.

Hamilton downplays toppling Perez in F1

Following the conclusion of the Mexican GP, Hamilton addressed the media and, when asked about his prospects of overtaking Perez, the 38-year-old stated, as quoted by Crashnet F1:

"It's mostly dependent on Checo's weekends, really. They have the championship-winning car. He's just been unfortunate, I think, in some scenarios.

"Obviously, I've lost quite a lot of points in the last two races, but he lost points today. So it's a bit of a seesaw. I didn't expect to be in striking distance this weekend, especially after losing points last week. But now, after today, we'll give it our best shot."

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The former McLaren driver also emphasised that what matters more to him at the moment is not his position in the drivers' standings but rather focusing on helping the team secure second place in the Constructors' Championship.

"Honestly, whether I finish second or third doesn't make a big difference in my life. What's more important is getting the team to secure second place in the Constructors' Championship. It's a bonus if we achieve second place in the drivers' standings."

Mercedes is currently 22 points ahead of Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, and they have a strong chance of finishing ahead of the iconic Italian team for the first time since the 2021 season.

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