Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner insists there was no motive Sergio Perez couldn’t have adopted Max Verstappen by means of the sector to attain factors at Method 1’s 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 was imposed, Perez began twelfth for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
But after a race that included an early spin, one other battle with potential successor Liam Lawson and a crimson flag delay, the Mexican might solely handle to make up one place by the top of the race having misplaced out to Lewis Hamilton late on.
That was in stark distinction to Verstappen, who remarkably recovered from seventeenth on the grid to take his first victory because the 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 chance within the constructors to take a giant chunk out of each Ferrari and McLaren and sadly, we have not been in a position to capitalise on that.
“Clearly, that is irritating, however we’ll go away and take a look at it and are available again hopefully combating arduous in Vegas.”
On whether or not there was a technical motive holding Perez again from matching Verstappen’s cost by means of the sector, Horner added: “Not that I am [aware of]. There was nothing evident to me within the race.”
Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing, talks to the media
Photograph by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Pictures
Perez defined after the race that “we began the race with very chilly tyres” and was instantly overtaken by the impressed Verstappen on the opening lap earlier than his spin dropped him to the again of the sector and into restoration mode.
Taking full moist tyres simply earlier than the crimson flag, the place Verstappen stayed out on his beginning inters, additionally meant he didn’t capitalise on the chance for a free tyre cease that aided his team-mate’s victory bid.
“It was a complete catastrophe,” Perez mentioned. “Actually nothing labored.”
The failure to achieve the factors within the Grand Prix, as McLaren and Ferrari remained forward of Crimson Bull within the constructors’ standings, has led to additional stress on Perez as his future stays unsure.
At his request, Perez changed chassis in Brazil in a bid to rediscover his type, however could only qualify 13th for the dry sprint race earlier than coming by means of to eighth within the 24-lap contest.
Requested whether or not Crimson Bull has 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 information.
“We’re working arduous with Checo. He had a chassis change this weekend.
“I believed he drove an excellent [sprint] race however [the grand prix] wasn’t his day.”
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