The Red Bull Racing team boss, Christian Horner, revealed that Sergio Perez faced a major setback during the Australian Grand Prix. A tear-off, a protective film on the visor, got stuck under Perez’s car, resulting in a significant loss of performance. Despite this setback, Perez managed to finish fifth in the race after his teammate Max Verstappen retired early due to a brake fire. Perez’s race was going well until the tear-off got stuck, causing a decrease in pace and tire degradation. Horner expressed frustration but also acknowledged the team’s impressive achievements so far.
In response to a question about the value of the loss of downforce that affected Perez’s competitiveness, Horner stated that it exceeded 20 points, indicating its significance. Perez had previously denied that Verstappen’s participation in the race would have prevented Ferrari from winning with Carlos Sainz leading the way. When asked if the race result would have been different without Perez’s grid penalty for blocking Hulkenberg’s Haas car, Horner admitted it was difficult to determine. He acknowledged that Perez’s performance was compromised due to the floor issue, but also recognized that Ferrari may have simply been faster that day. Verstappen revealed that his brake had been stuck since the start of the race, with Horner likening it to driving with the handbrake on. He explained that the caliper issue caused the brake to stick, resulting in heat buildup and eventually smoke and fire. Horner expressed his frustration with the mechanical failure, noting that it was the first abandonment of its kind in two years, demonstrating the strength and design of the car. However, it was disappointing to score zero points when they were competing at the front of the pack.
