Perez: British GP “just a mess” after failed tyre gamble

Adam Cooper
09/07/2024

Sergio Perez admits his British GP was “just a mess” after a gamble on an early switch to intermediate tyres didn’t pay off. Perez qualified only 19th following a spin in Q1, and before the race, the team opted to give him new PU elements and a pitlane start.

On the hard tyres he had made little progress when he joined Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon and Zhou Guanyu in pitting for inters on lap 20 during the first rain shower.

Unfortunately, the track dried quickly, and Perez lost 10-12 seconds a lap. By the time the rain returned, his tyres were worn out, and he had to make a stop for a new set of inters. He eventually finished a lowly 17th.

“We gambled a bit too early,” he said when asked about the strategy. “And we were out probably for seven laps and completely cooked the intermediate.

“And then when the rain came, there was no tyre left, and it was just a mess overall. Then we boxed again. We were in the middle of the leaders, and it was very difficult to make any progress. Just not an easy afternoon.”

Sergio Perez

Perez: Tyre strategy was incorrect in Silverstone

Perez admitted he was close to coming back in for slicks when he realized that the first call had been wrong.

“It was very, very close. I think we were just with our calls a couple of laps late. It’s a lot of seconds. But I guess at the same time we had to gamble from the position we were.

“Probably, we were looking for a few points or big points, so we gambled it. But there was no luck today at all.

“And it’s good that there is a bit of a break so that we can step back a bit and regroup as a team.”

Perez said Silverstone did have its positive side ahead of that reset.

“I think looking back at it, we had the strongest Friday in a while,” he said. “So I think there’s some light out of the tunnel. At the same time, it’s a very disappointing race.

“Other than that, just making sure that we are in the ballpark with the balance, try to make the progression we need for Fridays, and then things will be a lot better.

“I think it’s a good time to have a bit of a break and get back our form, hopefully for Hungary and Belgium, two very important weekends.”

Perez said he was not worried by ongoing talk about his future at Red Bull.

“I know where I am in terms of contract and that sort of thing,” he said. “But I cannot let it be a distraction.

“I need to focus on the next two weekends, which are the priority, and together with the team, as a team, to get out of this difficult period.”

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