Charles Leclerc, representing Monaco for Ferrari in the SF-24 car, took part in Round 5 of the Formula 1 World Championship, known as the Chinese Grand Prix, held in Shanghai, China, on April 21, 2024.
Sergio Perez admitted that his attempt to overtake Charles Leclerc hindered his chance to catch Lando Norris and secure second place in the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
Perez started the race alongside his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen on the front row but struggled at Turn 1, dropping behind Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin.
Although Perez managed to pass Alonso at Turn 6 during the fifth lap, Verstappen had already built a significant lead, creating a five-second gap ahead.
“Yes, I was clearly positioned on the inside of Max and had to brake earlier, while Fernando was on the outside,” Perez explained.
“My start wasn’t great, resulting in losing a position to Fernando. I had to make a considerable effort to overtake him.
“Maybe I pushed my tires too hard, putting me at a disadvantage in the first stint. It wasn’t an easy race.
“But I also felt that the changes we made from the Sprint event to the race took us in the wrong direction. It felt like we took a step back.”
Perez couldn’t keep up with Verstappen’s exceptional pace and fell behind Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc when they pitted during the Virtual Safety Car period.
The Red Bull driver spent several laps behind the Ferrari before finally making a move. However, this resulted in a significant gap to make up compared to the leading McLaren car.
“At this point, the difference was already considerable, and considering how well his pace held up in terms of tire degradation during the first stint, I knew it would be challenging,” recognized Perez.
“But once we had similar pace, and once you pass the car ahead and get involved in a battle, like the number of laps Charles and I fought against each other, then it’s game over.
“You put so much pressure on your tires and drain your energy that they never fully recover. It’s a track that causes high tire degradation, and I paid the price.
“But that was the only way I could pass Charles, because we both had tires of the same age, making it extremely difficult to overtake him.”
Perez also had to climb up the rankings to secure third place in the Sprint race, and he admitted that dealing with traffic exacerbated the balance issues he faced.
“Well, I believe I was mostly caught in the middle of the pack,” he explained. “When you find yourself in the midst of a group of cars, it becomes extremely challenging to assess the true balance of your own car.
“When there are two or three cars ahead of you, the load on your car decreases significantly, making it difficult to determine the balance.
“It’s simply a limitation I faced today, but it’s something we need to review to assess the decisions we made and identify areas for improvement.”
© 2024
Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton secured another victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. The British driver from the Mercedes team dominated the race from start to finish, securing the top spot on the podium. With this result, Hamilton extends his lead in the championship and gets closer to the world title.
The race started with Hamilton starting in pole position and maintaining the first position throughout the race. The driver showed impeccable performance, controlling the advantage over his rivals and avoiding any threats. His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, also had a good performance, securing second place.
Behind the Mercedes drivers, Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing completed the podium in third place. The Dutchman had a consistent race and managed to stay ahead of the other competitors. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished in fourth place, followed by his teammate Charles Leclerc.
With this victory, Hamilton adds more points in his pursuit of a seventh world title. The British driver has dominated the season, showing an impressive performance. Mercedes has also stood out as the team to beat, with a fast and reliable car.
The next stage of the championship will be the United States Grand Prix, which promises to be another exciting challenge. Hamilton is confident in his performance and hopes to maintain his winning streak. Fans eagerly await to see if the British driver will be able to achieve another title in his brilliant career.
