The position of Sergio Perez at Red Bull has been the subject of scrutiny in recent weeks, and his performance in Mexico only increased speculation that his place could be taken by Daniel Ricciardo next season.
Perez last won in Azerbaijan on April 30, and his inability to finish at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez puts his second place in the championship under threat from Hamilton. In fact, the seven-time world champion reduced the gap from 39 points to 20 with his strong performance.
After the race, Perez told DAZN: “I’m sad, no doubt, because today was my opportunity. I had a very good start and I only thought about winning the race. I didn’t want to be on the podium. I’ve already been on the podium two consecutive years.”
“I saw the opportunity and took it. In retrospect, I took a risk, but if I had succeeded, I would have come out of Turn 1 in the lead. I didn’t expect Charles to brake so late, since he was in the middle. He had much less room than Max, who was on the inside, and I was the one who could brake later because I was on the outside.”
This account highlights Perez’s determination to seek victory, especially in front of his local fans in Mexico, and the pressure he feels to maintain his place at Red Bull. His honesty and reflection on the incident show his maturity and understanding of the dynamics of the race.
