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Australia

Perez feared illness would force him out of Malaysian GP

Sergio Perez feared at one point that he would be forced out of the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend when he was struck down by a virus, prior to him battling through to score points.

Sergio Perez, Force India

Sergio Perez, Force India

Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India VJM10 at the start of the race
Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India VJM10
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H and Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India VJM10
Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India
Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India VJM10
Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India

The Mexican was struck down with an illness ahead of last weekend’s race in Sepang, and even had to go on a drip at one point to help him see through the event.

But after what he called the toughest race of his F1 career, Perez revealed that he had only been able to go ahead and compete because Friday's running was interrupted by bad weather and a red flag.

“There was a point in the weekend, probably on Thursday and early Friday, where without the limited running, I thought I would not be able to do the weekend given my condition,” said the Mexican ahead of the Japanese GP.

“But progressively it got better. The weather helped me, that we didn’t run too much on Friday, so I got away with it and I was lucky to be able to get away from that one.”

Speaking about his battle to get through the race itself, Perez said: “Sunday was I think my hardest race physically. It was so tough.

“It was like I had no strength at all in my muscles. I really, really struggled. It got worse as the race progressed, with the heat.

“I was trying to drink as much water as I could. Just strength wise, it felt like to me that I had lost all the strength in my body. I was feeling very weak.

“But I was quite lucky actually I had such an easy race out there, but in general to hang on there was quite difficult.”

Having fought through the grand prix, Perez said he already started feeling better on Monday and is now back to full fitness for this weekend’s race at Suzuka.

“Finally I am feeling back to normal. I am 100 percent for this weekend,” he said.

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Australia