Racing Point Justify “Logical” Decision to Pit Sergio Perez During the Safety Car in Imola

Sergio Perez lost out on a possible podium finish at the Imola Grand Prix. Perez managed tires well to catapult from P11 to P4 during his first stint on the mediums.

The team decided to pit Perez and get him on the soft compound for the last run to the checkered flag. Unfortunately for Perez, after his stop, a late incident triggered a late safety car.

Perez lost a podium to this strategy. However, the team’s technical director, Andrew Green, defended Racing Point’s decision of pitting Perez.

Max Verstappen’s tires blew out of nowhere, leading to a safety car. Concerned, Racing Point called Perez in for a tire change. At this moment, Daniel Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc, and Alex Albon skipped ahead of him.

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When the race resumed, Daniil Kvyat took over Perez. Perez put pressure on Alex and passed him as Alex spun on the track. However, he could not make up any more places and finished at P6.

Green explains that it was the best strategy at the time

Green mentioned that the race was going their way. However, the safety car scenario presented itself at the worst possible time for the team.

He said, ” that was not really how we were geared up, unfortunately. It was always going to be a difficult decision, that one.”

Green explained that the team believed that restarting on hard tires behind the safety car would have been a struggle. Therefore, the team made the decision to shift to a pair of soft tires.

Green clarified, “So the safest thing to do, and we thought that the most logical thing to do, was to swap him for a set of the new softer tyres, so that we didn’t have to worry about that. We thought other people might do the same, but a lot depends on how they were set up for the race.”

Green mentioned that the situation took a turn for worse for the Mexican when George Russell throttled into the wall behind the safety car. As this extended the yellow flag that took the edge off Perez’s new tires.

Green admitted, “Hindsight, we would have made a different decision. But I think at the time with the information we had that’s the decision we came to.”

Sergio Perez came close to a podium at Eifel and Portugal Grand Prix. Although a P6 at Imola has his at P6 on the drivers championship. He is 3 points shy of Leclerc on P4, and 13 points short of Ricciardo at P3.

Perez is currently without a 2021 Formula 1 seat. He is speculated to be a contender if Alex Albon is not retained in Red Bull. He will focus on getting some points and finish the championship at P3 to improve his chances for a 2021 seat.

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