Sergio Perez took his third-place qualifying finish at the Belgian Grand Prix as a chance to set the record straight, firmly stating, “It’s not like I’ve forgotten how to drive.”
Sergio Perez believes he has faced more scrutiny than others in Formula 1. His recent performance in the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying has given him a chance to shine.
During the qualifying session, Perez snagged third place, placing him on the front row for Sunday’s race. Initially, it seemed he might take pole position from Max Verstappen, but Charles Leclerc’s last-minute lap pushed him to second.
Despite this minor setback, Perez’s front-row start since the Chinese Grand Prix is a welcome change. This position gives him a solid opportunity to claim his first victory of 2024, breaking a tough streak of results.
When asked if his qualifying performance boosted his confidence, Perez replied, “It’s more than that. It’s not like I’ve forgotten how to drive from five, six races ago. Sometimes, drivers can’t maximize their car’s potential, but we’ve been making good progress since Hungary.”
Perez mentioned strong performances in recent races, including Silverstone and Hungary. He explained, “The car is moving in the right direction. Hopefully, we can finish with a strong result tomorrow. We still have a long way to go this season.”
“Head down,” Perez added. “The team and I are focused on scoring as many points as possible. The rest, I couldn’t care less, to be honest.”
With rumors swirling about his future at Red Bull, Perez stated that his qualifying result in Belgium doesn’t change anything. He believes he has faced more scrutiny than other drivers in similar situations. “From my point of view, it doesn’t change anything. It’s how you ride the waves, and where you finish in Abu Dhabi,” Perez said.
Perez remains unfazed by the speculation and is focused on the upcoming race. “Tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity,” he commented. “If I don’t have a good race tomorrow, I’ll try for a better one in Zandvoort. That’s just the nature of the sport.”
As Sergio Perez gears up for Sunday’s race, he remains determined to prove his skill and silence the critics. With his eyes set on victory, the Belgian Grand Prix is the perfect stage for Perez to make his comeback.
