While Max Verstappen was able to win another world title, Sergio Pérez was unable to get further than tenth place during the Grand Prix of Las Vegas. The Mexican started the race on the hard tire and in retrospect he is not happy with this choice.
Sergio Pérez failed to reach Q3 during qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He only reached P15 with his Red Bull and therefore had to race his way to the front to score points. Ultimately he managed to reach P10, after a very nice overtake on both Kevin Magnussen and Liam Lawson. “That was a pretty dangerous action with Kevin and Liam,” the Mexican says with a smile ESPN. “I came really hard on the inside and ended up overtaking both cars at 350. It was a pretty good move.’ However, Pérez is not so positive about the rest of the race.
Strategy
Since Pérez had to start so far back, Red Bull Racing decided to go for an alternative strategy. He started as one of the few drivers on the hard tire, but the tire wear was worse than expected. “I think the wear and tear was the problem for us,” said the Mexican. ‘We didn’t expect it to be that bad and that really hurt us, unfortunately. I mean, we used the best band at the wrong time. Then I had to do a fairly long stint on the medium tire. I was quite vulnerable, so it all went a bit wrong, unfortunately.’ In retrospect, Pérez would have preferred the hard tire at a later point in the race.
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Sergio Pérez was not happy with the strategy.
Yet Pérez is slowly gaining more confidence in his Red Bull and is hopeful that the team can go in the right direction. “We are close to an improvement,” said Pérez. ‘The pace is there, it’s coming. We are making progress.’ According to the Mexican, it is now clear what went wrong during qualifying on Saturday. ‘We understand exactly what happened in qualifying yesterday. We should have done better and we didn’t. We’re going to work hard to come back in the last few races.”
Teammate Max Verstappen
Pérez’s teammate, Max Verstappen, clearly had a better weekend and managed to win the championship. Pérez speaks highly of his teammate and is impressed by his performance. “I think Max has had the most incredible season I have ever seen from a driver,” Pérez looks back on Verstappen’s season. ‘We didn’t always have the best car and it was Max who made the difference. He’s had a great year.’ He congratulates Verstappen on the victory: ‘Congratulations to him. He deserves all the success he’s had.”
Las Vegas Grand Prix: The Highs and Lows for Sergio Pérez
Well, well, well! If it isn’t our amigo Sergio Pérez, stepping out of the shadows of Max Verstappen’s spotlight like a shy kid at a school dance. While Verstappen is over there collecting world titles like they’re Pokémon cards, Checo’s cruising in at a disheartening tenth place. Not exactly the fairy tale ending he was hoping for, right? But let’s dive into this rollercoaster of rubber and regret.
Starting from P15, Pérez was like a kid in a candy store—on the outside looking in. He made an audacious move, overtaking both Kevin Magnussen and Liam Lawson like a seasoned pro during a particularly spicy game of Mario Kart. “That was a pretty dangerous action,” he quipped, probably still giddy from that 350 km/h thrill ride. But let’s face it: it was a brief glimmer of brilliance in what was mostly a rather dim race.
Strategy Gone Awry
And here comes the real kicker—strategy. Oh boy, it seems like Pérez’s crew took a major left turn, attempting a gamble with the hard tires. It’s as if they decided to bring a spoon to a knife fight. The tire wear? Let’s just say it was worse than they’d expected, which is about as shocking as finding out that a cat will indeed knock things off a table for no apparent reason. “We used the best band at the wrong time,” lamented Pérez, sounding more like a heartbroken festival-goer than a race car driver.
A long stint on medium tires had him feeling as vulnerable as a vegan at a BBQ. “It all went a bit wrong, unfortunately,” he said, and you can almost hear the spirit of every confused pit crew member mourning for what could have been.
Yet, amidst the chaos, there’s a silver lining. Our boy Pérez is gradually gaining confidence in his machine. He’s telling anyone who will listen that they’re “close to an improvement.” The optimism is thicker than the fumes of burning rubber! “We are making progress,” he declared, like a toddler learning to walk after a series of face-plants. Let’s hope that progress comes sooner rather than later, as nobody wants to see him turning up to the next race dressed as this season’s punching bag.
The Max Factor
And speaking of punches, there’s good ol’ Max Verstappen, the reigning champ—the guy who makes winning look as easy as stealing candy from a baby. “Amazing season,” Pérez remarked, through gritted teeth, and you could almost hear the envy in his voice. He’s right; while he grappled with tires, Verstappen was busy making it look like he was on a Sunday drive.
“Congratulations to him,” said Pérez, putting on his best (yet slightly pained) poker face. Who knew Formula 1 could be a study in emotional range? It’s like watching Shakespeare with a side of adrenaline. So while Checo picks himself up and dusts himself down, we’re left wondering: will he rise from the ashes or is he just going to be the runner-up in the greatest show on wheels?
In the end, if nothing else, we’ve got a race to look forward to! I’m ready for the next chapter in the thrilling saga of Sergio Pérez and the wild world of F1. Just remember, Checo: when life gives you hard tires, it’s okay to vent about it but do it at a coffee shop, not in front of a million viewers!
While Max Verstappen cruised to yet another world title victory, his teammate Sergio Pérez struggled significantly during the Grand Prix of Las Vegas, finishing in a disappointing tenth place. Starting the race on the hard tire, Pérez later expressed dissatisfaction with this strategic choice, acknowledging it was not the optimal decision.
Sergio Pérez was unable to reach Q3 during qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, ending the session in a lackluster P15 with his Red Bull. Consequently, he faced the daunting task of clawing his way up the pack to earn valuable points. With determination, Pérez surged to P10, executing an impressive maneuver to overtake both Kevin Magnussen and Liam Lawson. “That was a pretty dangerous action with Kevin and Liam,” Pérez shared with a grin, recalling the tense moment. “I came really hard on the inside and ended up overtaking both cars at 350. It was a pretty good move.” Nevertheless, Pérez’s optimism faded when reflecting on the remainder of the race.
Strategy
Given Pérez’s starting position deep in the grid, Red Bull Racing opted for an unconventional race strategy. He was one of the few drivers to start on the hard tire, a gamble that unfortunately backfired as tire wear exceeded expectations. “I think the wear and tear was the problem for us,” confessed Pérez. “We didn’t expect it to be that bad and that really hurt us, unfortunately. I mean, we used the best band at the wrong time. Then I had to do a fairly long stint on the medium tire. I was quite vulnerable, so it all went a bit wrong, unfortunately.” In hindsight, Pérez reflected that he would have preferred to use the hard tire later in the race, indicating a missed opportunity for a better performance.
Yet Pérez is slowly gaining more confidence in his Red Bull and is hopeful that the team can go in the right direction. “We are close to an improvement,” said Pérez. ‘The pace is there, it’s coming. We are making progress.’ According to the Mexican, it is now clear what went wrong during qualifying on Saturday. ‘We understand exactly what happened in qualifying yesterday. We should have done better and we didn’t. We’re going to work hard to come back in the last few races.”
Teammate Max Verstappen
Pérez’s teammate, Max Verstappen, clearly had a better weekend and secured the championship title. Pérez speaks highly of his teammate and is impressed by his performance, stating, “I think Max has had the most incredible season I have ever seen from a driver.” He believes that Verstappen’s skill shone through, especially during times when the team did not possess the best car. “He’s had a great year.” The pride in his teammate’s achievements is evident as Pérez offers heartfelt congratulations: “Congratulations to him. He deserves all the success he’s had.”
How did tire wear impact Sergio Pérez’s performance in the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
One of the few drivers who began the race on hard tires, a choice that would backfire as tire wear proved to be significantly worse than anticipated. “I think the wear and tear was the problem for us,” Pérez explained. “We didn’t expect it to be that bad and that really hurt us, unfortunately. I mean, we used the best band at the wrong time.” This left him with a lengthy stint on medium tires, making him particularly vulnerable to competitors looking to capitalize on his struggles.
As the race unfolded, it became apparent that this strategy was not yielding the desired results. The once confident Pérez found himself battling not only the competition but also the limitations of his tire choice. “It all went a bit wrong, unfortunately,” he lamented, wishing for a chance to reconsider his tire strategy. In hindsight, he acknowledged that starting with hard tires might have been more effective if executed later in the race.
Despite the setbacks, Pérez’s spirits seemed to lift as he acknowledged the potential for improvement. “We are close to an improvement,” he said, expressing hope that the lessons learned in Las Vegas could be applied to future races. The Mexican driver is mindful of the progress he and the team have made, indicating that they understand what went wrong during qualifying as well.
Meanwhile, his teammate Max Verstappen, who cruised to victory and clinched yet another world championship title, continued to impress not just Perez but the entire racing community with his exceptional performances throughout the season. Pérez praised Verstappen’s achievements, remarking, “Max has had the most incredible season I have ever seen from a driver.” Congratulating his teammate with sincerity, Pérez noted that despite the turbulence of his own race, he recognizes the hard work and skill that has led to Verstappen’s success.
As Pérez looks ahead, he remains determined to overcome the challenges faced during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, ready to harness newfound confidence and insights to improve his performance in the upcoming races.
