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Lauda: Perez Has Potential For Bigger Things

Former Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda believes Mexican Sauber driver Sergio Perez has the potential to be one of the the greatest drivers in Formula 1. The Austrian also said that it won't necessarily have to be with Ferrari.

Perez, who is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, finished second at the Italian Grand Prix last time out, after overtaking both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa to finish behind race winner Lewis Hamilton.

Thanks to a late one stop strategy, the 22 year old Mexican charged through the field, easily passing his rivals including Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who many still believe will be replaced by Perez next season.

Speaking to Swiss newspaper Blick, 63 year old Lauda said: "In Italy Perez drove like a god and this in the truest sense of the word. Unemotionally and without error. No driver has impressed me more than this season in a Grand Prix."

According to the Austrian, the Sauber driver does not necessarily have to be a Ferrari driver to achieve greatness.

"Perez certainly has the potential for bigger things but that does not mean he is going to Ferrari," Lauda added.

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2026 F1 Championship Standings (as of May 3)

PDriverTeamPoints
1Andrea AntonelliMercedes100
2George RussellMercedes80
3Charles LeclercFerrari63
4Lando NorrisMcLaren51
5Lewis HamiltonFerrari49
6Oscar PiastriMcLaren43
7Max VerstappenRed Bull26
8Oliver BearmanHaas17
9Pierre GaslyAlpine16
10Liam LawsonRacing Bulls10
11Franco ColapintoAlpine5
12Arvid LindbladRacing Bulls4
13Carlos SainzWilliams4
14Isack HadjarRed Bull4
15Gabriel BortoletoAudi2
16Esteban OconHaas1
17Alexander AlbonWilliams1
18Nico HülkenbergAudi0
19Sergio PerezCadillac0
20Fernando AlonsoAston Martin0
21Lance StrollAston Martin0
22Valtteri BottasCadillac0
PTeamPoints
1Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team180
         Poles: 4       Sprint wins: 1       GP wins: 4
2Scuderia Ferrari HP112
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
3McLaren Mastercard F1 Team94
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 1       GP wins: 0
4Oracle Red Bull Racing30
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
5BWT Alpine F1 Team21
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
6TGR Haas F1 Team18
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
7Visa Cash App Racing Bulls14
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
8Atlassian Williams F1 Team5
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
9Audi Revolut F1 Team2
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
10Cadillac F1 Team0
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
11Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team0
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0

2026 MotoGP Championship Standings (as of April 26)

PRiderTeamPoints
1Marco BezzecchiAprilia Racing101
2Jorge MartinAprilia Racing90
3Fabio Di GiannantonioPertamina Enduro VR4671
4Pedro AcostaRed Bull KTM66
5Marc MarquezDucati Lenovo57
6Raul FernandezTrackhouse Racing54
7Alex MarquezGresini Racing53
8Ai OguraTrackhouse Racing48
9Francesco BagnaiaDucati Lenovo34
10Enea BastianiniKTM Tech330
11Brad BinderRed Bull KTM28
12Luca MariniHonda HRC Castrol27
13Franco MorbidelliPertamina Enduro VR4625
14Johann ZarcoCastrol Honda LCR24
15Fermin AldeguerGresini Racing20
16Fabio QuartararoMonster Energy Yamaha11
17Diogo MoreiraPro Honda LCR9
18Joan MirHonda HRC Castrol4
19Alex RinsMonster Energy Yamaha3
20Toprak RazgatlıoğluPramac Racing1
21Maverick ViñalesKTM Tech30
22Jack MillerPramac Racing0
23Michele PirroGresini Racing0
24Augusto FernandezYamaha Factory Racing0
25Lorenzo SavadoriAprilia Racing0
PTeamPoints
1Aprilia Racing191
         Poles: 1       Sprint wins: 1       GP wins: 3
2Trackhouse MotoGP Team102
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
3Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team96
         Poles: 2       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
4Red Bull KTM Factory Racing94
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 1       GP wins: 0
5Ducati Lenovo Team91
         Poles: 1       Sprint wins: 2       GP wins: 0
6BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP73
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 1
7Honda LCR MotoGP33
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
8Honda HRC Castrol31
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
9Red Bull KTM Tech330
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
10Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP14
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0
11Prima Pramac Racing1
         Poles: 0       Sprint wins: 0       GP wins: 0