The incredible and incessant fervor of the Mexican public did not give wings to Sergio Pérez on Saturday. At home, the pilot Red Bull simply posted his worst qualifying performance of 2024, with a dismal 18th place and a fifth Q1 elimination this season. A new disappointment in the worst place, and at the worst time, while his position at Red Bull is more fragile than ever. Still behind his teammate Max Verstappen Throughout the weekend, the Mexican experienced a qualifying session " very difficult " suffering from brake problems during his flying laps.
“It was really difficult to stop the car, did he declare with Sky Sport F1. I couldn't stop the car early enough and put too much energy into the tyres under braking, which was the main problem for me." A situation far from ideal on a circuit where heavy braking is common... A problem that Sergio Pérez had already encountered during Free Practice and which was not resolved for qualifying. “It’s very similar to the rest of the weekend. I can’t stop the car and I struggle with the low-speed part [of the circuit]. It’s a bit like Austin, where I couldn’t attack the corners under braking, and here there are a lot of them.”
Perez's last at home?
Relegated to the ninth row at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix, possibly his last with Red Bull (and in Formula 1 at all?), Sergio Perez will have to hope for a miracle to get back into the points zone. "I think [on Sunday] it's very important to try to maximise the day. If we manage to score some good points it will be a great effort, but it will be very difficult in the position we are in.", he admits. Forced to abandon at the first bend last year, the Mexican hopes this time to offer one last show to his public before, perhaps, saying goodbye…
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
28/10/2024 at 11:28 a.m.
And he had a hard time stopping him during the race too, trying to play Verstappen against Liam Lawson, another driver paid by Red Bull!
Eric Stevens
27/10/2024 at 03:23 a.m.
It's not just the car that needs to be stopped, it's your career!