Perez says Mexico is moving on from the saddest moment of his career

MEXICO CITY:

Sergio Perez said his first corner crash turned Sunday’s home Mexican Grand Prix into the saddest experience of his career.

The Red Bull driver, who enjoyed a passionate home support, clashed with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as he charged for the lead, bringing Red Bull team-mate world champion Max Verstappen alongside him.

But three out of two didn’t go, he said, after he bounced into a runoff area from which he recovered, limped to the pits and retired.

“I’ve had some very sad moments in my career,” he said. “And certainly that’s the saddest because of the end result, but at the end of the day it’s just racing.”

The incident not only ended Perez’s race after he had started well from fifth on the grid, but also damaged Leclerc’s Ferrari, leaving him with a damaged front wing.

He continued but could not hold off seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes and finished third behind him as Verstappen set a record pace for his 16th win of the season and 51st of his career.

Perez was adamant he had to take the risk of racing to win in front of his fans in a big crowd at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“To be honest, I felt like I would have let them down more if I didn’t do it … I saw the gap and I did it,” he said. “I decided to take a chance. I knew it would be very risky and I ended up paying the price.”

He added that he would make the same decision again.

The result failed to quell speculation over his future with Red Bull after a dismal run that saw him without a podium in five races since the Italian Grand Prix on September 3.

While Perez crashed again, Hamilton’s points haul allowed him to close within 20 points of second place in the drivers’ championship, a goal valued by Red Bull because they have never had a one-two finish in a title race.

Verstappen leads on 491 ahead of Perez on 240 with Hamilton on 220.

And one of the drivers most touted as Red Bull’s potential replacement for Perez in 2024, Daniel Ricciardo, confirmed his recovery from a broken arm injury by finishing seventh, ahead of Perez, in his Alpha Tauri.

“You have days like that,” Perez said. “What makes me proud is that I gave it my all. And this is….”

Team boss Christian Horner was sympathetic afterwards. “He had a rocket launch and so much momentum in the first corner that you can’t blame him for going for it and trying to take the lead in his home race.”

Horner added that it was a time to support Perez, not criticize.

“He’s got 13 years of experience in F1 and I think when you’re going through a tough time, it’s important to support him. He was having a great weekend up until that point.”

He praised Ricciardo for his maturity, experience and pace after a race the returning Australian described as “the weekend I dreamed of – and I got it”.

His success for Alpha Tauri moved them level with Alfa Romeo in eighth in the constructors’ championship with 16 points, leaving Haas 10th and last on 12.