Sergio Perez, the Red Bull driver, acknowledged that a weekend without points in Monaco had dealt a significant blow to his World Championship chances. The Mexican driver paid the price for his qualifying mistake on Saturday, starting from the back of the grid after crashing out of Q1 at Sainte Devote.
Qualifying in Monaco is renowned for its importance in determining track position for the race, making Perez’s task on Sunday a formidable one. In an attempt to make up lost ground and secure points, he pitted after just one lap to find clear air and utilize the hard tires. However, multiple instances of contact and challenges in traffic resulted in Perez making five pit stops and finishing two laps behind his teammate, Max Verstappen, outside of the points.
The weekend’s disappointment was further exacerbated by Verstappen’s victory, which extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 39 points, equivalent to more than one-and-a-half race wins.
Perez acknowledged that his qualifying error had effectively decided his fate for the race, but he also recognized that the circumstances during the race did not work in his favor.
“It was a really difficult day out there, and everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong,” Perez stated in an interview with Formula1.com. “Really, really sad with the performance, but not just today, basically from yesterday with my mistake. We knew that this was the price that we were going to pay.”
Having secured two hard-fought victories earlier in the season alongside Verstappen, Perez had been firmly in contention in the Drivers’ Championship, with the Red Bull car proving to be the class of the field.
As the title fight shapes up to be primarily between the two Red Bull drivers, Perez understands that he cannot afford to lose any more ground if he aims to sustain a challenge throughout the season.
Expressing his frustration, Perez stated, “It is very frustrating. I knew that my mistake yesterday was extremely costly, and then that was 25 points [lost]. So, very disappointed, but still, I have some hope – but I know that I cannot afford another zero in the championship, so I really hope I can be back to my normal level in Barcelona.”
With the upcoming races on the calendar, Perez will be determined to bounce back and regain his competitive form, ensuring that his Monaco troubles remain an isolated incident. The Barcelona Grand Prix presents an opportunity for Perez to reestablish his championship aspirations and narrow the gap to his teammate Verstappen.
