Perez never saw Chen Xiangbei as a target or idol.
The reason is simple, for American drivers there's essentially just one idol, and his name is Senna.
Of course, this doesn't include Masa among these drivers.
Truthfully, Masa's childhood idol was also Senna, but due to certain circumstances, love turned into resentment, and after entering F1, the name of the person who motivated him became Schumacher.
Among the many second drivers of the Ferrari Team, even Barrichello was unwillingly a wingman for Schumacher, mainly due to pressure from the team and the absolute strength of the King of Cars.
Only Masa genuinely enjoyed being a wingman for Schumacher, considering it an honor to fight alongside the legendary driver.
Perez's journey was somewhat similar to Masa's; prolonged interactions with Chen Xiangbei and a conversation with Trulli before he left led to a significant shift in his mindset, gradually recognizing his teammate's strength and charm.
