Of the few crucial and dramatic moments from Saturday’s Monaco Grand Prix qualifying was the sudden crash Sergio Perez of Red Bull experienced when his car spun out and went straight into the barriers, thus prompting a premature end of Q3, the final qualifying session last evening.
While the driver emerged absolutely unscathed, which was one of the best pieces of news anyone could find, it did affect his final quali run, since the famous Red Bull driver was contesting a hot lap and may even have grabbed pole.
Though, that was not to happen. As a matter of fact, what ruined the scenario for the rest of the drivers on the grid was the fact that Ferrari’s Sainz quite simply shunted into the back of Sergio Perez’ Red Bull.
As Leclerc was ahead of the duo with Max Verstappen and company in pursuit, the only logical thing that could’ve happened given the whole incident was the red flagging of the Q3. And so it happened.
Even as 30 seconds or very nearly that were left for Q3 to end, there was no further live qualifying action from Monaco as everyone lay still. Resultantly, Leclerc clinched a pole, his second at his home track race, which further meant that Ferrari begin today’s Monaco Grand Prix from the best possible view on the racy venue.
Later, offering candid apologies for his unforeseen and as one later found out, uncontrollable spin, Sergio Perez cut a forlorn figure. But besides that odd episode, he’s been pretty much on the go, performing well for a team that expects him to lend solid support to none other than Verstappen, the current defending champion.
That being said, what does Sergio Perez, currently third on the F1 drivers’ standings with 85 points, need to do in order to continue at the famous Milton Keynes-based outfit? Moreover, what does his own team expect of him and how does Red Bull view the simpleton’s performances thus far with six races having been rendered complete?
Finally, some answers!
“He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed from Monaco on Saturday.
And when asked about the quality of Sergio Perez’ drives and performances so far, then Horner, ever supportive of the Mexican driver shared the following:
“He’s doing a great job, we are very happy with him. He’s driven extremely well so far this year. The delta between him and Max Verstappen, as you know, has diminished significantly compared to last season. I think he’s happier in the car. He’s achieved that fantastic pole position already in Jeddah this year.”
Furthermore, there were also some candid responses shared on the perspective of just how good a team man has Sergio Perez been all this while. We still haven’t forgotten- and are likely to remember- for a very long time the key drive that Perez delivered in the latter half of 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that enabled Verstappen to close in on Lewis Hamilton.
To that, the following is what Christian Horner had to say,” He’s driven some great races and is a team player. I don’t think there’s anyone better in the pit lane. So he’s doing a great job, he needs to keep doing what he’s doing and then talks should hopefully be reasonably straightforward.”