For Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez, the Brazilian Grand Prix was quite literally a washout. While his teammate Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance, the weekend ended in disappointment for the Mexican driver. The event was supposed to restore Pérez’s confidence, but instead, it turned into a fiasco where everything seemed to go wrong.
Sprint Qualification Sets Negative Tone
The first setback came during the sprint qualification, where Pérez could only manage the thirteenth fastest time. His position in the sprint race didn’t yield much either, as he finished in eighth place, earning just a single point. In the race qualification, the Mexican driver again failed to set a good time, forcing him to start from twelfth position. Ultimately, the starting position offered little promise, and he crossed the finish line in eleventh place. Prior to the weekend, Pérez was very hopeful about scoring points, but he left Brazil with just one point to his name.
Struggling in the Rain
While Max Verstappen effortlessly raced through the field, Pérez was completely stuck on the wet circuit. An early spin with cold tires and an unfortunate skid through a puddle of water pushed him further back. From that moment on, it was a tough battle for the Mexican with no sight of points.
After a red flag, Pérez had a chance to recover, but this did not turn out as hoped. In the duel with competitor Liam Lawson, he ran into trouble again and eventually had to let Lewis Hamilton pass him. After the race, Pérez summed it up as a lost race weekend: “Nothing worked today.”
Optimistic Despite Setbacks
Despite all the setbacks, Pérez still sees some improvement. With his new chassis, the car felt better this weekend, although this did not translate into results. “The speed was there, I felt it right away. Now it’s waiting for a bit of luck and momentum.” With three races left, the question remains whether Pérez can regain some of his form this season and strengthen his position at Red Bull.
