Under the night lights of the Sakhir Grand Prix, it was the Racing Point of Sergio Perez that surged forward to claim the race victory. In a career that has spanned nearly 10 years, it was the Mexican’s first win.
It was the sort of drive that left many questioning how a driver so talented still does not have an F1 seat for 2021. From the back of the grid, he made a commendable recovery; and in doing so, crossed the checkered flag with seconds to spare.
According to famed F1 journalist Will Buxton, however, a resolution over Checo’s future could possibly arrive in the ‘coming days.’ As we approach the season finale at Abu Dhabi, things can only get more interesting.
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Everything is about to change for the better for Sergio Perez, says Buxton
Buxton’s post on Twitter read, “That win wasn’t just validation or vindication for @SChecoPerez, it was the clearest example of why he HAS to stay in the sport next season. And from my disappointed pessimism just 48 hours ago, I’ve been convinced this evening that everything is about to change. For the better.”
Perez has repeatedly mentioned the fact that he wants a competitive project to drive in F1. With Red Bull not having confirmed their drivers’ lineup for 2021, speculation will remain over whether the Mexican would occupy the seat alongside Max Verstappen.
That is to say, there is some heavy weight chatter in the paddock tonight of news breaking in the coming days over Checo's future. With any luck, we will be talking about it on the Weekend Warmup on Thursday.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) December 6, 2020
“That is to say, there is some heavy weight chatter in the paddock tonight of news breaking in the coming days over Checo’s future. With any luck, we will be talking about it on the Weekend Warmup on Thursday.”
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Perez drove a mighty race in Sakhir all the way down from P18
After being rear-ended by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Checo came early into the pits but ended up losing track positions. However, that did not deter his confidence and determination to get back in the race.
In just a matter of laps after the stop, he had gained seven places. This meant that he overtook Vettel to get into the points. However, his biggest opportunity came when he was driving in P3. And Mercedes committed a colossal error in the pits with a double pit-stop.
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Regardless of the manner, Perez will not care one bit of how the race win came. But, a swift decision on his future will also need to come soon. The only question that remains – will F1 fans get to see Perez in a Red Bull seat next season?