There was a painful end to Sergio Pérez’s Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix as he crashed out in Q1 in damp conditions.
The Mexican driver, facing enormous pressure both internally from Red Bull and externally from the media, lost the car in turn 8 as he turned in, crashing quite heavily into the tyre barrier.
Pérez confirmed he felt some pain in his leg but will be able to race tomorrow without issues.
“A bit of pain on the leg, but other than that, all good and ready for the race.”
The 6-time race winner went on to describe what happened from his point of view behind the wheel.
“I lost it, I think I clipped the kerb and at that point it was raining harder in Turn 8, so when I clipped the kerb […] it was quite late in the corner and it just sent me off completely into the wall.”
Q1 had been looking quite decent for Pérez as he was running in P9, just as the rain started to gently fall. But as the track dried out at the end due to an extended red flag period as he car needed to be removed, he dropped to P16, getting knocked out in the first segment of qualifying for the fourth time in six events.
It was even more painful for the Red Bull driver as he looked very strong on Friday on the long runs, and he was a solid P4 in FP2 as well.
“Yeah, exactly [not what I needed]. It was so hard to judge the conditions, it was raining harder but at the end you were not losing grip, I was improving my lap.
“So yeah, in hindsight when you look at it, we were safe, we didn’t need to do the lap, but you always know a lot afterwards.
“It hurts that it happened again, especially in the run that I’m going through. But yeah, I’m determined to turn this around because I believe that […] I mean, yesterday we had a really good day, a very promising day, so I think we had very good information on the long run, so hopefully tomorrow we can have some really good pace to come through the field and hopefully score some points.”
Asked by race engineer Hugh Bird if he felt he could improve again, Pérez admitted things could have been handled better regarding his third push lap on those tyres with the rain falling. He was comfortably in the show at that point in P9.
“I think after qualifying everyone knows what to do.
“I think at the time, yeah, with the information I had, probably there was no need, especially where we were and the rain was picking up.
“But yeah, we went and we paid the price.”
Pérez went on to explain how conditions were constantly evolving, with some sections getting drier and others getting a bit damper as each lap progressed. Not long before his accident, George Russell had a big moment at turn 8 himself.
“Yeah, things were warming up, but the track seems to be consistent for a couple of laps.“I was improving in my lap actually, but in hindsight there was no need to do that lap.
“The problem was that he was just changing the track constantly.
“You will arrive into a corner and all of a sudden it’s a little bit damper. The lap before I was on a good lap, but then I arrived into Turn 12 and it was quite a lot damper.
“So, it’s just with these conditions, all of a sudden you find a little bit worse.
“But unfortunately it has been myself who experienced that.”
Pérez, whose last win came at the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, rubbished suggestions the mistake came because of pressure.
“Not really, I was just on a good lap.
“But in hindsight probably we didn’t need that lap. It’s something we will review, but I think these conditions can catch anyone out there. But unfortunately it has been me with two in a row.
“I mean, I’m determined to turn things around. It’s obviously quite hard to face all the media after these difficult moments.
“But I think when we get back to it, it will be even sweeter.”
Red Bull brought a number of updates to Budapest, and Pérez has been happier with the feeling in his RB20 in the process.
“Yeah, I think the feeling with the car is improving, the understanding with it as well. So we’re definitely making progress.
“Yesterday I think was probably the best Friday of the season. So there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but we just have to come through it, and hopefully tomorrow that can be the day.”
The 2023 Drivers’ Championship runner-up confirmed he had been at the Milton Keynes base to try and improve the feeling as well.
“Yeah, I was back in the factory to try and understand, to get us in a better window with the car, with the set-up.
“I think we definitely made some good progress. So we will keep pushing hard to turn things around.”
Regarding if he talked to the team, the 34-year-old held his hands up and apologised for his latest error.
“Well, not much to say.“I’m very sorry for letting my team down. It hurts a lot as a driver when you let your team down. But I will not give up.
“I will really give my very best to turn the situation around, and push as much as possible to get the Constructors’ Championship home.”
Asked about Helmut Marko’s comments where the Austrian said Pérez’s future would be evaluated during the summer break, he was not concerned this mistake could be a fatal blow.
After scoring just 15 points over the last 6 races, the Mexican’s future at the team is hanging by a thread.
“No, like I said before, nothing changes. I’m not worried, I’m fully determined to turn my season around and focus on my performance.”
Finally, Pérez has vowed to keep fighting and not give up, saying he wants to be an example to his kids.
“Yeah, I’m really finding it […] I wouldn’t say fun, I would say a challenge. Something that mentally is really tough.
“The easiest way would be to give up after the career I’ve had, just to say it’s been enough.
“But it’s not what I want to teach my kids. I want to show this sort of character.
“I think it’s important to turn things around, get back to our form, because it was not that long ago. It’s just one another.
“You’ve seen it with many other drivers. They’ve had difficult weekends. But probably when you are at Red Bull, it’s a lot more noticeable.
“I just want to get back, and I will get back. I will not give up.”
