Sergio Perez’s hopes of a triumphant turnaround at his home Grand Prix were dashed as he suffered an early exit in Q1, leaving the Red Bull driver and his fans in shock. The 34-year-old, who came into the weekend with high ambitions to rebound from a challenging season, admitted he struggled to control his car on a tough day for Red Bull.
Perez acknowledged he couldn’t get the lap just right, saying, “Very difficult one. I just couldn’t get on top of it.” The Mexican driver noted similar issues to last weekend’s US GP, failing to brake in time and managing tire energy improperly. “I couldn’t stop the car soon enough, too much energy through the tires and braking. It was very similar to Austin, where I couldn’t attack the corners under braking,” he explained.
Adding to Red Bull’s woes, Max Verstappen also faced engine issues throughout the weekend, increasing pressure on Perez to deliver crucial points on Sunday. With Ferrari inching closer to Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings, Red Bull needs Perez to secure a solid result to fend off the Maranello team’s challenge. Checo himself admitted, “Tomorrow, it is important to try and maximize the day. To score points will be a tremendous effort.”
Now, with his team and a passionate home crowd behind him, Perez faces intense pressure to perform. It remains to be seen if Checo can bounce back in the main race, as he seeks to deliver a strong finish to keep Red Bull’s championship hopes alive and his seat secure.
