Purple Bull boss Christian Horner insists there was no cause Sergio Perez couldn’t have adopted Max Verstappen by way of the sphere to attain factors at Components 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 pink flag delay, the Mexican might solely handle to make up one place by the tip 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 for the reason that Spanish Grand Prix.
“It was a tough 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 capable of capitalise on that.
“Clearly, that is irritating, however we’ll go away and take a look at it and are available again hopefully preventing exhausting in Vegas.”
On whether or not there was a technical cause holding Perez again from matching Verstappen’s cost by way of the sphere, Horner added: “Not that I am [aware of]. There was nothing evident to me within the race.”
Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing, talks to the media
Photograph by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Photos
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 sphere and into restoration mode.
Taking full moist tyres simply earlier than the pink 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 stated. “Actually nothing labored.”
The failure to achieve the factors within the Grand Prix, as McLaren and Ferrari remained forward of Purple Bull within the constructors’ standings, has led to additional strain 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 way of to eighth within the 24-lap contest.
Requested whether or not Purple Bull has now reached the purpose at which a driver change is a necessity, Horner replied: “Every little thing in life is subjective, you have to have a look at the details.
“We’re working exhausting with Checo. He had a chassis change this weekend.
“I assumed he drove a very good [sprint] race however [the grand prix] wasn’t his day.”
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