MILTON KEYNES, England - Sergio Perez took a pounding as Max Verstappen's Red Bull team mate last season but the Mexican has used the winter break to reset and recharge for another 24 rounds against the dominant world champion.

Verstappen won a record 19 of 22 races last year on his way to a third successive Formula One title while Perez started strongly with two wins from the first four races before suffering a sudden slump.