Sergio Pérez: “We gave the podium to Ricciardo”

Sergio Pérez could have scored his first podium of the season at Imola. But the Racing Point driver finished sixth after being called back to the pits by his team during the safety car after the accident. Max Verstappen.

His pursuers Daniel Ricciardo et Charles Leclerc for their part remained on the track. “This stop made no sense at that time,” complains Pérez. “The problem was that it was extremely difficult to overtake in this grand prix so it was better to resist with damaged tires than to try to overtake with fresh tires. »

Logically, the Mexican keeps the episode in his throat. “ It's a very painful day, because we had the podium in our pocket and we gave it to Ricciardo. It's hard to digest. But it's easy to say what was the right decision after the race, I think the team is as disappointed as I am. It was the wrong choice but we lose and we win together. What’s a shame is that we lost big in the championship.”

Indeed, Racing Point moves from third to fifth place in the constructors' standings against Renault et McLaren. Only one point separates the three teams with four rounds remaining.