Struggles Continue for Sergio Pérez at the Spanish Grand Prix Amid Team and Personal Setbacks

June 24th, 2024, 11:45 AM
Formule1.nl

The Spanish Grand Prix ended in disappointment for Sergio Pérez, continuing a streak of underwhelming performances in Canada and Monaco. While his teammate Max Verstappen managed to keep his often faster competitors at bay, Pérez could only secure the eighth position in Spain. The meager four World Championship points he earned completed a ‘disastrous’ weekend.

Sergio Pérez arrived in Spain with a three-place grid penalty, a consequence of his controversial antics during the Canadian Grand Prix that followed him back to Europe. A strong qualification for the Spanish race was therefore crucial. Unfortunately, this proved to be a challenging task for Pérez, who ultimately clocked the eighth fastest time, relegating him to start from the eleventh position.

In the race, Pérez managed to gain a few places, but not enough to assist his teammate Verstappen – the three-time world champion was on his own in Spain. Former driver and analyst Damon Hill was once again shocked by Checo’s lack of speed. “It’s incomprehensible, isn’t it?” he said on Sky Sports. “He has – apart from McLaren – the fastest car, but he can’t even get close to Max (Verstappen). We’re talking about a difference of four or five places on the grid.”

Hill knows better than anyone the adverse effects this has on Red Bull. “Pérez’s results are truly disastrous for the team,” continued the former world champion. “Of course, they want him to score as many points as possible or help Verstappen with defense. But he’s not even close.”

‘Time for Perfect Weekends’

Pérez himself was also not satisfied with the result in Spain. “The biggest problem was the starting position,” he reflected on the race. “The first stint was tough and ultimately made the race difficult. The competitors are just very strong – McLaren seems to be the fastest now, but we are sure we will come back.”

The 34-year-old driver is now in fifth place in the championship. In the constructors’ championship, Red Bull is still defending the title quite well, with a lead of sixty points over rival Ferrari. During the upcoming race in Austria, the team wants to introduce some necessary upgrades in the hope of extending their lead further.

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