Source – Formula1.com
After finishing sixth in the Dutch Grand Prix compared to his teammate’s second place, Sergio Perez was left feeling conflicted.
Sergio Perez had reasons to feel both optimistic and concerned after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. While his personal performance showed signs of improvement, the Mexican driver couldn’t ignore the glaring issues Red Bull faced, particularly in the face of McLaren’s unexpected dominance. Lando Norris cruised to victory, leaving Red Bull scrambling for answers after finishing over 20 seconds behind the papaya-colored machine. For Perez, the race was a mix of promise and frustration, as the pressure to perform continues to mount amid a season of ups and downs.
After a series of lackluster weekends, Perez entered the Dutch Grand Prix with a point to prove. His qualifying struggles have been well-documented, but there was a glimmer of hope when he managed to secure a spot in Q3, starting the race from a respectable fifth position. Considering McLaren’s evident superiority at Zandvoort, this was no small feat. However, the optimism was short-lived as the race unfolded.
The opening lap saw Perez’s progress stall almost immediately. Squeezed into sixth by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, he initially managed to stay within striking distance of the scarlet car. But as the laps ticked by, it became clear that Perez’s Red Bull lacked the pace to keep up. What had seemed like a promising start turned into a battle for survival as he gradually fell behind the leading pack.
Reflecting on the race, Perez didn’t mince words about his disappointment. “In terms of weekend progression, it has been a solid one,” he said, acknowledging the progress made from the practice sessions to qualifying. “But I was very disappointed with the pace we had today in the race. It was something we were not expecting to have.”
The surprise wasn’t just in McLaren’s pace, which had been formidable all weekend, but in Ferrari’s resurgence as well. “I thought we were going to be a lot closer to the McLaren,” Perez admitted. “Ferrari were a massive surprise and obviously McLaren. Yeah, plenty of stuff to understand… It was discouraging to see what McLaren can do today.”
Despite the setbacks, Perez did manage to claw back some positions during the race. He overtook George Russell’s Mercedes, though this was somewhat aided by Russell’s decision to switch to a two-stop strategy late in the race. However, any hope of a strong finish was dashed when Carlos Sainz, in the second Ferrari, came charging through, demoting Perez once again. By the end of the race, Red Bull found themselves in the unfamiliar position of being, at best, the third-fastest car on track.
The struggles didn’t end with the lack of pace. Perez revealed that the team had been battling with grip and balance issues throughout the race, particularly on the hard tires. “In the beginning, things were looking really good, but we just didn’t have the pace to keep up as the other cars started to pull ahead,” he explained. “We were struggling with the grip on the hard tyre and balance all race.”
Yet, amidst the frustration, Perez remained determined to turn things around. The weekend, though challenging, provided valuable insights into the car’s issues, which Perez believes could be crucial for the team’s development going forward. “We have a lot of work to do, but it has been a good weekend in terms of understanding the car issues, and we can go forward to take this as the base and to develop from here,” he said.
Looking ahead to the next race in Monza, Perez emphasized the need for the team to dig deep and resolve the lingering problems. “We will keep our heads down and be fully focused on getting to the bottom of our issues. We’ve got a lot of work to do to understand where the pace has gone, especially in the race, so hopefully we can get back up to speed in Monza next week.”
For Perez, sixth place at Zandvoort marked his best result since finishing fourth in Miami. However, it also highlighted how far Red Bull have fallen behind the front-runners. With McLaren closing the gap in the Constructors’ Championship, the pressure is on for Perez to return to the podium and deliver the big points Red Bull needs to fend off the competition. But as the team heads to Monza, one pressing question remains: does Perez have the car to do so? The answer to that could very well define the remainder of his season and Red Bull’s campaign.
