Sergio Perez claims he had the ‘SPEED’ to end up on the Hungary podium after his strong P7 finish
Sergio Perez started the Hungarian GP from P16.
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Sergio Perez (via IMAGO)
Sergio Perez produced an exceptional drive during yesterday’s 70-lap Hungarian Grand Prix. Starting P16, he faced a few initial setbacks, but he was on it once the first stops of rival cars took place. Perez ended his outing in seventh place and afterward, he admitted that a podium was possible.
The Red Bull F1 team no longer has the fastest car on the grid. McLaren has pretty much tipped the scale in their favor and ample evidence of this was seen during the Budapest event. However, from Sergio Perez‘s point of view, he had enough speed to at least end up behind the two McLarens in P3.
Perez’s teammate, Max Verstappen ended his exploits with a P5 finish.
We finished at the maximum we could achieve and that maximum was seventh place. The speed is there, that is the positive. The rest will come naturally. It is a matter of time.Sergio Perez via Motorsport
When specifically asked whether he had the speed to finish on the podium in Hungary, the 34-year-old had the following to add.
Yes, I think we had the speed for that today.Sergio Perez via the same interview
The Mexican has come away from Budapest with a feeling of leaving a bit on the table. However, keeping in view how much Max Verstappen struggled against the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, one has to wonder whether Perez really had a shot at the podium.
Sergio Perez eyeing a ‘podium’ at the Belgian Grand Prix
While Perez is a bit dejected with his seventh-place finish at the Hungaroring, he is gunning for a podium at this week’s event at the Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit. He genuinely feels he has the speed and the confidence to step onto the podium once again.
The last time Perez was on the podium was in Shanghai during the 2024 Chinese GP.
The most important thing is that the speed is there and I really hope that I can fight for the podium again in Belgium.Sergio Perez via the same interview
In recent times, Sergio Perez’s Achilles heel has proven to be qualifying. In Budapest, he rammed his car into the barriers in Q1 and thus, had to start the race from P16. Quali errors have become quite common with the six-time Grand Prix winner and this is one area where he needs to put in immense work ahead of the Belgian GP. Several eyes will be glued on Perez at the super-fast Spa-Francorchamps.
In case you missed it:
- Red Bull needs to wake up following Max Verstappen’s disastrous Hungarian GP
- Max Verstappen SLAMS Red Bull for ‘stupid comments’ on team radio over Hungarian GP strategy
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Rishabh Negi
(3244 Articles Published)