As the sun struggled to break through the clouds over Silverstone, challenges were abundant. Helmut Marko has given a somber prediction for Sergio Perez, pointing to a strategic misstep at Silverstone as the reason for his struggles.
- Sergio Perez faced another early exit in Q1, marking his third such result in five races.
- Helmut Marko identified an early switch to slick tires as a critical error for Perez.
- Perez’s choice led to a dramatic slide into the gravel, effectively ending his qualifying round.
- Max Verstappen, after his own mishap, still managed to secure a strong starting position for the race.
In the ever-changing weather conditions at Silverstone, Sergio Perez found himself once again struggling to make an impact in qualifying. After a promising switch to slick tires, Perez’s gamble did not pay off. He was one of the early drivers to attempt the shift, but the plan backfired, leaving him sliding into the gravel at Turn 9. This mistake resulted in red flags, halting his progress and marking his third failure in five races to move beyond Q1.
Helmut Marko, a senior advisor at Red Bull, offered some perspective on Perez’s mishap, attributing the incident to a poor tire strategy. ‘As an excuse, you can say that he was the first to go out on slicks,’ Marko commented. The unfortunate timing of his switch, coupled with hitting a wet patch, only compounded his woes. Despite his efforts, Marko is doubtful about Perez’s chances to finish in the points from his starting position of P19, stating, ‘I don’t see much chance of getting into the points.’
Meanwhile, Perez’s teammate, Max Verstappen, had his own brush with disaster. He experienced significant underbody damage after a detour through the gravel at Copse during Q1. Despite this setback, Verstappen’s performance remained impressive. According to Marko, the damage resulted in a loss of about 100 points of downforce, yet Verstappen secured a fourth-place starting position. Marko praised the result under these circumstances, highlighting a recent update that contributed to his competitiveness.
The upcoming repairs to Verstappen’s car are expected to restore its performance fully. Marko expressed confidence in Verstappen’s ability to challenge for a top spot in the race, emphasizing the car’s need for optimal conditions to maximize its potential after the necessary fixes. Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship with an 81-point advantage, showcasing his dominance despite the day’s hurdles.
As the Red Bull team looks ahead, Sergio Perez’s challenges continue, while Max Verstappen remains a formidable contender.
