Pérez: "No siento bien el coche" en México
Sergio Pérez expressed his frustration after a disappointing qualifying session for the Mexican Grand Prix, admitting that he didn't feel comfortable with the car. The Red Bull driver, who was aiming for a strong performance in front of his home crowd, ultimately finished only fifth on the grid, behind teammate Max Verstappen and the two Ferraris.
"It's been a difficult weekend," Pérez acknowledged after the session. "I haven't felt comfortable in the car all weekend, and in qualifying, it was even worse." He added that the team was working hard to understand the issues, but that they were still struggling to find the right setup.
"We're trying to understand what's going on," Pérez continued. "The car feels very different compared to last year, and we're trying to find the right balance. We need to find a way to make it work for tomorrow."
Despite the challenges, Pérez remains optimistic about his chances in the race. He knows that Red Bull has the pace to be competitive, but he also acknowledges that he needs to improve his performance. "We'll see what we can do tomorrow," he said. "It's a long race, and anything can happen."
A challenging weekend for Pérez
This weekend has been a struggle for Pérez from the start. He was already off the pace in practice, and his struggles continued into qualifying. His teammate, Verstappen, looked dominant throughout the session, setting a new track record and securing pole position.
Pérez, on the other hand, found himself struggling to get the best out of the car. He was unable to find a good balance, and he repeatedly complained about the car's handling.
The battle for second in the championship
The Mexican Grand Prix holds significant importance for Pérez, not only because of the home crowd but also because of the championship standings. He is currently second in the drivers' standings, just 11 points behind Verstappen.
A strong performance in Mexico could help him close the gap to his teammate. However, a poor race result could allow Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to close in on him in the championship.
All eyes will be on Pérez
With the Mexican Grand Prix approaching, all eyes will be on Sergio Pérez to see if he can turn his fortunes around and deliver a strong performance for his home crowd. He will need to find a way to overcome his current struggles and get the best out of the car if he wants to challenge for victory and maintain his second place in the championship standings.