Sergio Perez Vows to Turn Season Around Following British Grand Prix Qualifying Setback
July 15, 2024, Silverstone Circuit – Despite a dismal qualifying performance at the British Grand Prix, Sergio Perez remains defiant, insisting he can revitalize his Formula 1 season. The Mexican driver’s qualifying session came to an abrupt end when he slid off the track at Copse and got stuck in the gravel trap, relegating him to 19th place.
This latest blow adds to Perez’s recent struggles, which have seen him score a mere 15 points since Imola, a far cry from teammate Max Verstappen’s 101 points during the same period. Silverstone marks the fourth event in six races where Perez failed to advance to the Q3 shootout, sparking concerns about his ability to support Red Bull’s constructors’ title defense.
“I’ve been in this business for long enough, so I exactly know what to do and how to turn things around. I will not give up. I will turn this one around,” Perez asserted.
Perez recently signed a 2026 contract extension, reportedly featuring performance clauses. With the team acutely aware of the need for its second car to improve, there are murmurs about a potential plan B if Perez can’t find his footing.
However, Perez is unfazed by the pressure, attributing his qualifying mistake to a simple error rather than a sign of deeper issues. When questioned about the timing of his mistake, given the growing pressure, Perez responded, “No, no, no. I’m fully focused on my job. I’m fully focused on getting the performance out of myself, the form that I know where I can be.”
Perez took full responsibility for his spin at Turn 9, attributed to a loss of rear-end grip while warming up his tires on a drying track. The incident also affected teammate Verstappen, who suffered floor damage after a similar excursion, costing him 100 points of downforce.
“It was very frustrating,” Perez reflected. “Turn 9 was really tricky, very difficult, especially in the beginning. As I was trying to warm up the tyres, when I downshifted I basically lost the rear end quite badly and I went out of the track. I had cold tyres and it’s full of standing water outside of the track, so I just ended up going into the gravel.”
With his Formula 1 season at a crossroads, Perez remains resolute, determined to turn things around and prove his worth as a key component of Red Bull’s constructors’ title defense. As the Formula 1 standings continue to evolve, Perez’s performance will be closely scrutinized, with his next move crucial in determining the trajectory of his season.
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