Pérez signs his first victory in F1 in a crazy GP, Ocon 1nd

And you are going to tell us that this driver will perhaps not be on the grid next year? Hanging on to the 1st round by one Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) too optimistic at turn 4, Sergio Pérez had fallen back to the last row. The Mexican did not panic; he stopped immediately, adjusted his tire strategy, and began an exceptional climb, as he is accustomed to doing.

Of course, the Racing Point driver will have benefited from the misfortunes of Mercedes ahead to achieve his first career victory at the 1th attempt, but that does not detract from his merit and his talent. Because the Mexican had already returned to the Top 190 when the race changed on the 3th lap.

Mercedes then headed towards a quiet double. 

Very lively since the start of the weekend, despite a slightly uncomfortable driving position in a W11 tailor-made for Lewis Hamilton, George Russell had caught his teammate's cold Valtteri Bottas at the start to take control with authority from the first turn. 

He had led the race masterfully, had stopped on the 45th lap to swap his Mediums for Hards and had regained the leadership when Bottas in turn stopped on the 50th lap. Russell had then won the race when his replacement at Williams, Jack Aitken, caused a 2nd Safety Car when he lost his front wing at the last corner. 

Mercedes then got confused in the pits by calling its two drivers at the same time as it often does. Except that the mechanics fitted the wrong tires on Russell's W2, before spending endless time trying to take care of Bottas's to finally give him the Hard ones that the Finn had when he entered.

Russell had to stop on the next lap to change his tires and start again with the correct Mediums. Hamilton's replacement came out 5th behind Pérez, Esteban Ocon (Renault), Lance stroll (Racing Point), and his teammate Bottas. 

The race was restarted on the 70th of the 87 laps of the GP and Russell wasted no time in cutting into the road, overtaking Bottas, Stroll, then Ocon in quick succession. When he found himself in 2nd position, Pérez was more than 3 seconds ahead of him. With his fresh Medium tires, his Mercedes, and his incredible driving skills, the former champion of Formula 2 began to string together the best laps in the race to pounce on the Mexican.

Russell was striding back on Pérez when the Briton suffered a heartbreaking puncture, like a stab in his dreams of success. Russell had to make a 4th stop and found himself kicked out of the Top 10 with 10 laps to go. 

Pérez managed the end of the race perfectly to win ahead of Esteban Ocon. The Renault driver signs his first career podium in a difficult season so far for the Frenchman, while Lance Stroll allows Racing Point to sign a double finish in the Top 1. 

Carlos Sainz had made an excellent start to move into the Top 3 in the first round. The Spanish of McLaren will have to settle for a place at the foot of the podium. Daniel Ricciardo allows Renault to place its 2 cars in the Top 5. 

follow Alexander albon (Red Bull) and Daniil Kvyat (Alpha Tauri), while Bottas tumbled to 8th place with his worn tires. The Finn is ahead of Russell, who manages to return to the Top 10 and signs his first career points. Lando Norris (McLaren) snatches the last point in play from Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri).

After the Frenchman, Pérez is the 2nd driver this year to open his account in F1. What a race! Which season !

What an extraordinary race #SakhirGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/ktGauOprIe

- Formula 1 (@ F1) December 6, 2020