formula 1
“Just sad”: Mexico crash causes Pérez even more distress
Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez caused an accident in his home country. photo
© Fernando Llano/AP
During Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 record journey, his teammate Sergio Pérez seems increasingly lost. The accident disaster at the home game raises new questions about his future.
With a gold-embroidered sombrero on his head, Formula 1 sole ruler Max Verstappen accepted the ovation. As the record-breaking driver celebrated his 16th win of the season in a businesslike manner in Mexico’s evening sun, his Red Bull teammate struggled Sergio Pérez in the paddock with his emotional wounds.
“This is a hard moment for him, a serious setback,” said team boss Christian Horner about the deeply sad 33-year-old. Pérez’s major accident at the start of his home game, which was so emotionally charged, once again raised questions about his future in the world champion team.
With a heavy heart, Pérez had already explained the bitter scene to his mechanics in the garage during the race, then allowed himself to be comforted by Boss Horner at the command post and waved to his disappointed fans from the pit wall. “I risked too much, but I wanted this victory,” said the Mexican. After 16 seconds, he was over-motivated and rumbled into Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, briefly took off in his Red Bull – then his race was over.
Disaster for Pérez
“Sometimes a few seconds are enough to disappoint thousands of people,” wrote the Swiss “Tages-Anzeiger”. The counter-cut made the disaster for Pérez all the more severe. On the one hand, the Red Bull understudy seems more lost than ever in the shadow of Verstappen’s dominance. Pérez has collected less than half of the points in 19 races and is 2:16 in terms of victories this year.
On the other hand, after the crash in Mexico, Pérez has to worry more and more about being runner-up in the World Championship, even in the superior Red Bull. “It’s a shame, we lost 19 points to Hamilton,” said Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, summing up the dilemma. Due to Lewis Hamilton’s second place and fastest lap, Pérez is now only 20 points ahead of the Mercedes driver in the overall standings before the remaining three races of the season.
If Hamilton hadn’t been controversially disqualified for finishing second in Texas a week earlier, the two would already be almost tied. “I didn’t think I would come within striking distance again. But it mainly depends on Checo’s weekends,” said Hamilton and subtly pushed a little more pressure towards Pérez. “It won’t make a big difference in my life whether I come second or third,” said the Brit.
Persistent rumor
But maybe for Pérez. There is a persistent rumor that the Mexican would lose his job at Red Bull if he loses second place in the World Cup. “It’s not that simple. You have to look at the circumstances and so on,” said team boss Horner. “He has an agreement with us for next year. And our intention is for him to be in the car in 2024,” assured the 49-year-old.
At the same time, however, Horner raved highly about Daniel Ricciardo, who is considered a possible successor to Pérez. In the Alpha Tauri, the Australian drove brilliantly to seventh place and brought the Red Bull sister team up two places in the constructors’ championship, which is important for the distribution of money. “He completely underlined why we brought him back. He looked like the old Daniel again,” said Horner.
Pérez had no choice but to fight for confidence. “The results will come. I’m not worried, I’m just a little sad,” said Pérez after that unfortunate day at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez.