Formula 1 British GP
"I will turn this around," says under-pressure Perez
Perez is bullish about his form and Red Bull future after another disappointing Formula 1 qualifying session in Silverstone
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Jul 7, 2024, 1:39 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
A defiant Sergio Perez says he will turn his Formula 1 season around after suffering another blow in British Grand Prix qualifying.
In the opening stages of a wet qualifying session, Perez slipped off the road at Copse and got stuck in the gravel trap, ending his session in 19th.
It's the latest blow for Perez amid a downturn in form that has seen the Mexican score just 15 points since Imola, compared to 101 for team-mate Max Verstappen. Silverstone was the fourth event in six races in which Perez failed to progress to the Q3 shootout.
That has reignited the debate on whether the 34-year-old is the right person to help Red Bull retain its constructors' title against ever-fiercer opposition.
Perez recently signed a 2026 contract extension that is understood to include a spate of performance clauses. The team is acutely aware its second car must pick up performance and has mulled over a plan B if Perez can't get his act together.
Read Also:
But while disappointed with his qualifying mistake, Perez remains bullish that he can return to his early 2024 form, batting away questions over his future.
When asked if his qualifying mistake came at the worst possible time given the pressure that is building, Perez said: "No, no, no. I'm fully focused on my job.
"I'm fully focused on getting the performance out of myself, the form that I know where I can be.
"I've been in this business for long enough so I exactly know what to do and how to turn things around.
"I will not give up. I will turn this one around."
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Erik Junius
Perez is adamant that his continuing dip in form doesn't affect his Red Bull future after signing his new deal.
"Like I said, I have a contract with the team and I will turn things around," he added.
"It's not something that distracts me or anything like that. It's done and dusted. I just want to get back to my form, and focus on the important things."
Perez took the blame for his spin at Turn 9, having been one of the first drivers to bolt on slicks as the track started drying up.
Behind him, Daniel Ricciardo also went off but kept out of the gravel, while team-mate Verstappen's excursion through the same gravel trap left him with floor damage that prevented the Dutchman from challenging for pole.
Read Also:
"It was very frustrating," said Perez. "Turn 9 was really tricky, very difficult, especially in the beginning.
"As I was trying to warm up the tyres, when I downshifted I basically lost the rear end quite badly and I went out of the track. I had cold tyres and it's full of standing water outside of the track, so I just ended up going into the gravel.
"I couldn't stop the car, I couldn't go straight. A few people went off, it clearly was a tricky corner. But anyway, I put my hand up, because I f*cked up today."
Because of Perez's lowly grid position and the large number of engines he has already used up this season, Red Bull has used the opportunity to hand the Mexican a number of new power unit components and settle for a pitlane start.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article How Perez and Antonelli have stalled Formula 1’s driver market
Next article FIA admits Verstappen should have had black-and-white warning flag in Austria
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
Esteban Ocon issues statement after Haas benching, denies physical altercation rumours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
14 h
Esteban Ocon issues statement after Haas benching, denies physical altercation rumours
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
14 h
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
More from
Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Sergio Perez praises Colton Herta impact - but has no say over 2027 Cadillac F1 team-mate choice
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Sergio Perez praises Colton Herta impact - but has no say over 2027 Cadillac F1 team-mate choice
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
More from
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
12 h
Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat
Latest news
How Marc Marquez could wrap up the 2026 MotoGP title in Qatar GP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
How Marc Marquez could wrap up the 2026 MotoGP title in Qatar GP
Kyle Busch Remembered: Rowdy's top Martinsville moments
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
1 h
Kyle Busch Remembered: Rowdy's top Martinsville moments
MotoGP responds to Yamaha’s Qatar GP withdrawal
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
2 h
MotoGP responds to Yamaha’s Qatar GP withdrawal
Yamaha boycotts Qatar Grand Prix amid ongoing Middle East war
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
3 h
Yamaha boycotts Qatar Grand Prix amid ongoing Middle East war
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe