Pink Bull group principal Christian Horner has insisted there was no purpose for Sergio Perez to not have adopted Max Verstappen via the sector and scored huge factors on the Brazilian Grand Prix.
After one other Q2 elimination in qualifying, albeit only a place behind team-mate Verstappen earlier than the three-time champion’s five-place grid penalty, Perez began twelfth. But, after a race that included an early spin, one other battle with potential successor Liam Lawson and a red-flag delay, the Mexican may solely handle to make up one place by the tip of the race.
That was in stark distinction to Verstappen, who remarkably recovered from seventeenth on the grid to take his first victory for the reason that Spanish Grand Prix.
“It was a troublesome race for Checo,” defined Horner within the aftermath.
“Spinning at the start of the race drops him down. It was a possibility within the constructors’ to take an enormous chunk out of each Ferrari and McLaren and sadly, we have not been in a position to capitalise on that.
Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing RB20, sprays mud as he tries to rejoin after a spin
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
“Clearly, that is irritating, however we’ll go away and take a look at it and are available again hopefully preventing laborious in Vegas.”
On whether or not there was a technical purpose holding Perez again from matching Verstappen’s cost via the sector, Horner mentioned: “Not that I am [aware of]. There was nothing evident to me within the race.”
The failure to succeed in the factors as McLaren and Ferrari remained forward of Pink Bull within the constructors’ standings despite Verstappen’s penalty has led to additional strain on Perez as his future stays unsure.
Requested whether or not Pink Bull had now reached the purpose at which a driver change is a necessity, Horner replied: “Every part in life is subjective.
“You have to have a look at the info. We’re working laborious with Checo. He had a chassis change this weekend. I assumed he drove an excellent [sprint] race however [the grand prix] wasn’t his day.”