Sergio Perez, the Mexican racer, had a less-than-stellar qualifying session and ended up starting 12th. The team chose to implement a single-stop strategy, having him commence on hard tyres in an effort to improve his standing.
Despite showing promising progress, Perez found himself trapped behind the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who also pursued a single pit stop but began their stint on medium tyres.
Near the finish line, Perez managed to create enough distance from the trailing cars, allowing him to pit for new tyres and secure the bonus point for the fastest lap.
In an interview with F1 Flow.com, Perez responded to queries about his performance, stating, “There was certainly potential for more,” when asked if he could have done better than sixth. “But we just weren’t fast enough today. We had our struggles. I believe the safety car’s timing was disadvantageous for us. Luck hasn’t been on our side recently, but that’s the current situation.”
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB19, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / F1 Flow Images
When questioned about his struggles for speed over the Montreal weekend, Perez identified braking as the main issue. “I think the ride has not been great, so braking was the biggest challenge,” he said. “That’s what we need to address and understand better so that we can bounce back stronger.”
Asked to clarify the root of the problem, Perez stated: “Not at this time. We made some changes with the tyres and the set-up, a few aspects that need to be fully comprehended.”
Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, dismissed the notion of a mechanical issue with the car. “I don’t believe there’s any specific problem,” said Horner. “Like others, he was having trouble generating tyre temperatures, which is something that Max has always excelled at given his driving style.”
Horner continued, “Citing Perez’s performance, he began on the hard tyre and lost some momentum before the pit stop on medium. He had similar issues with the hard tyre but then found a free gap. That’s when he achieved the fastest lap. His performance was quite close to what the simulation projected, honestly.”
When asked whether Perez could have overtaken the Ferraris, Horner responded, “That would have required a significant pace advantage, but Checo didn’t have that today.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sergio Perez Canadian F1 GP
Q: What was Sergio Perez’s position in the F1 Canadian GP?
A: Sergio Perez finished in sixth place in the F1 Canadian GP.
Q: What strategy did Red Bull Racing employ for Perez in the race?
A: Red Bull opted for a one-stop strategy for Perez, starting on hard tires in an attempt to gain positions.
Q: Why did Perez struggle during the race?
A: Perez mentioned that he lacked pace and struggled mainly with braking. The team also believed they had difficulties generating tire temperatures, affecting his performance.
Q: Did Perez manage to secure any bonus points in the race?
A: Yes, Perez was able to pit for fresh tires towards the end of the race and secure the fastest lap bonus point.
Q: Were there any mechanical issues with Perez’s car?
A: According to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, there were no specific mechanical issues reported with Perez’s car. The challenges he faced were more related to generating tire temperatures and finding the right pace.
More about Sergio Perez Canadian F1 GP
- F1 Flow.com interview with Sergio Perez
- Race analysis of the 2023 F1 Canadian Grand Prix
- Red Bull Racing team website
- F1 official website
5 comments
Perez admits lacking pace in Canadian GP. Brake troubles affected his performance. Red Bull denies any mechanical issues. Tough luck for Checo!
Perez’s pace was off in the Canadian GP. He faced challenges with braking and tire temps. Red Bull denies mechanical problems. Tough race for the Mexican driver.
perez had a tough race in the canadian gp. he admitted to not havin the pace. struggld with brakin and tyre temps. red bull deny mech issues.
Perez not fast enough in F1 Canadian GP. Struggled with braking. Red Bull says no car issues. Tough luck for Checo!
Perez’s performance in the Canadian GP was disappointing. Lack of speed & braking troubles affected his race. Red Bull denies any mechanical problems.