Sergio Perez racing in the Red Bull RB20.
A very downbeat Sergio Perez lamented struggles with the rear axle on his Red Bull after suffering consecutive Q1 eliminations.
With a new multi-year Red Bull contract signed and sealed ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Perez looked to put the frustrations of Monaco firmly in the rear-view mirror, but instead found himself having to come to terms with back-to-back exits at the Q1 stage.
Sergio Perez brands Canadian GP qualifying ‘total disaster’
Perez was left behind by almost a second in Q1, unlike his team-mate Max Verstappen who comfortably set the pace. This setback led to Perez’s elimination in the first round.
In an interview with Sky F1 following his elimination, Perez acknowledged that his difficulties centered around the back of his Red Bull RB20. He openly admitted that qualifying turned out to be an utter catastrophe for him.
When asked about the main issue, Perez responded by saying, “Yeah, the biggest challenge was definitely getting the rear to engage properly. The rear axle was quite difficult for me to handle.”
I ended up paying the price for it as I simply couldn’t maintain a grip. I was sliding too much, resulting in a disastrous qualifying session.
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During the Monaco race, Red Bull encountered difficulties navigating the bumps and kerbs, resulting in their best position being P6 for Verstappen as they maneuvered through the streets of Monte Carlo.
However, Perez emphasized that his main concern in Canada was the rear axle, rather than any additional difficulties encountered while going over the kerbs.
“He remarked that it was more of a tire issue rather than a curb issue.”
Somehow, we were unable to activate the rear axle in these conditions, and I couldn’t rely on it for support at all.
“Regrettably, due to my lack of confidence at that moment, I failed to pursue it, resulting in a complete disaster.”
Qualifying witnessed occasional rain spots that did not necessitate the use of intermediate tires. However, a significant downpour followed, reflecting the unpredictable weather conditions experienced throughout the entire race weekend. There is a possibility of further rain on Grand Prix Sunday.
After emphasizing that qualifying was an utter catastrophe, Perez now shifts his focus towards the sky and various strategic options to aid in his comeback.
When questioned about his expectations for the race, Perez responded, “Although the situation seems dire, we need to consider the weather and strategize accordingly before drawing any conclusions.”
After matching the polesitter George Russell’s time, Verstappen will start from the front row in Canada.
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