The Monegasque was just under 0.2 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton within the second free follow session on the Monte Carlo circuit, and half a second away from the closest Crimson Bull – Max Verstappen, who was fourth quickest.
Crimson Bull struggled to unlock efficiency from its RB20 and suffered over the bumps across the circuit, whereas the Ferrari appeared a much more aggressive prospect after the opening day.
Perez reckoned that the Ferrari appeared capable of “put it on actually simply” when it got here to getting ready for a scorching lap, and that the character of Monaco rewarding qualifying most of the time set the Italian crew as favourites.
“Ferrari in the intervening time are simply not reachable,” Perez stated.
“I feel they’re actually sturdy and every time they want the lap, they only appear to place it on very easy, actually fast.
“It is one thing that’s fairly a profit round this place, to have the ability to put the lap in fast and everytime you want it to, and do not battle a lot with tyres and that form of factor.
“They’re wanting very sturdy in the intervening time.”
After Mercedes additionally factored on the prime finish of the timesheets, George Russell reckoned that the W15 gave him a sense of “the perfect I’ve ever felt” round Monaco, and recommended that the 2024 subject would break the lap document across the principality.
Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The Briton had his personal struggles nonetheless, commenting that the automobile was “shaking to bits” beneath braking, and famous that Leclerc had the benefit heading into Saturday’s periods.
“As quickly as I touched the brakes, the entire thing was shaking to bits. So I do not know what was happening.
“I attempted my greatest, holding it as onerous as I might, like a gorilla, making an attempt to carry onto it and the factor saved shaking.
“On a observe like this the place you want confidence to assault, it actually set us again and we simply determined it was greatest to name it a day throughout the long term and try to analyse what was happening.
“However usually the automobile’s been performing very well in the present day. FP1 we have been P3 I feel after which Lewis P2 this afternoon. Clearly working nicely, however you understand Charles is nicely out in entrance.
“We all know how rapidly every little thing modifications, however positively in the present day’s been one in every of our greatest Fridays, little question. The automobile’s feeling the perfect I’ve ever felt round round Monaco, so plenty of positives.
“Everyone’s growing so rapidly in the intervening time. And also you see how fast the lap instances are in the present day in comparison with final 12 months. We’re method, method faster, probably even breaking the lap data.
“Anyone will most likely do tomorrow. Hopefully, it’s going to be us.
“But it surely’s feeling good. And we’ll should see what the climate does as nicely.”