Sergio Perez Learned from His Mistake in Imola to Not Repeat Safety Car Blunder in Sakhir

Sergio Perez had been sniffing around the No. 1 pedestal on the podium for long now. After he came close at Istanbul Park, he was looking for an opportunity to take his first F1 victory ever. Well, with Lewis out and Mercedes’ pit stop blunder, Racing Point’s Perez got what he was planning.

Checo has displayed excellent form this season. Although both Racing Point cars had begun well at the Turkish Grand Prix, it was Perez who made it to the podium finally. To add on, he needed this win to further extend his chances to get a seat for 2021.

If the Mexican’s story is taken into context, it looks like destiny tested him at the Sakhir GP. He explained that the late safety car felt like deja vu carried forward from Imola.

However, Perez would not make the same mistake again. Pitting while the late safety car had cost him positions at Imola and thus, he prepared himself this time.

“I think obviously after what happened in Imola when we did the wrong choice, pitting under the Safety Car, we were clear what we wanted to do here.” 

“We were obviously staying out [during the Lap 61 Safety Car] and we were pretty confident I was going to be able to restart those tyres and to go to the end with good pace,” narrated Sergio Perez.

Read More – Sergio Perez Deserves Red Bull F1 Seat in 2021: Aston Martin Boss Lawrence Stroll

Sergio Perez was confident about holding back Russell

Racing Point’s joy knew no bounds when the team experienced a double podium for the first time. With Sergio Perez winning and Lance Stroll finishing P3, the team sealed maximum points to strengthen their P3 place.

However, even during the final few laps of the race, one racer successfully stole the limelight from Perez. It was super-sub George Russell in the Mercedes No.63. Russell was driving with all his might and was looming as a threat on Checo for long. However, the Mexican feels he could have held him back.

“I think with George it was going be close but I think I was going to be able to hold him back, because we had good pace.

“He was about two to three-tenths, sometimes four-tenths, sometimes I was matching him. I think the closest he got was 2.8s. The information that we had as a team was that you needed a difference of eight-tenths of a lap to be able to overtake,” concluded Perez.

With the solid research and Perez’s formidable spirit, Russell knew he might seriously have to be satisfied with a P2. However, fate snatched even that away from him as the racer had to, eventually, settle for a P9.

Read More Amid Turbulent F1 Future, Sergio Perez Admits He’s at Peace with Himself after Sakhir GP Win