Sergio Perez’s Controversial Moves Analyzed: A Reckoning of Race Craft

Sky F1 pundit Jolyon Palmer has cast a critical eye on Sergio Perez’s recent performances in F1 races, highlighting a string of problematic incidents. Palmer’s analysis, focusing on Perez’s recent decisions, points to a significant shift in the driver’s on-track judgement.

Key Takeaways:

• In the Singapore Grand Prix, Perez’s rash maneuvers led to a collision with Yuki Tsunoda, causing the latter’s retirement, and a later incident with Alex Albon, which cost both drivers points.
• Perez’s troubles continued in Japan, where an attempted overtake on Kevin Magnussen culminated in damage for both, affecting their race outcomes.
• Jolyon Palmer, through his detailed critique, raised questions about Perez’s judgement in recent races, noting a departure from his previously commendable race craft.

Sergio Perez, the Red Bull driver known for his calculated and committed approach, has recently come under scrutiny for a series of on-track incidents that raise questions about his racing tactics. Sky F1 pundit Jolyon Palmer, in a recent analysis, drew attention to Perez’s actions in the past few races, notably in Singapore and Japan, which have deviated from his earlier reputation.

In the Marina Bay episode, Perez’s aggressive attempt to overtake Yuki Tsunoda resulted in a collision, leading to Tsunoda’s withdrawal from the race due to suspension damage. The challenges for Perez didn’t stop there. A subsequent clash with Alex Albon at Turn 13 resulted in a five-second penalty for Perez and dashed Albon’s hopes of finishing in the points.

Perez’s performance in the subsequent Japanese Grand Prix mirrored these problems. His attempt to pass Kevin Magnussen at Turn 11 not only ended in disaster for Magnussen but also resulted in another penalty for Perez, further tarnishing his race record.

Jolyon Palmer, in his column, offered a candid view of Perez’s recent form. “In Singapore, Perez knocked Tsunoda into retirement on the opening lap, T-boned Albon out of the points late on and received a redundant five-second penalty that didn’t affect his position,” Palmer observed, highlighting the impact on smaller teams.

Discussing the Japan incident, Palmer commented, “It was a move that was no doubt borne out of frustration at being in the fastest car and stuck for longer than anticipated behind Sunday’s slowest team, while being desperate to recover some ground. But it was also an utterly hopeless move for a driver who seems to have forgotten his race craft.”

Palmer’s conclusion was a stark one, emphasizing a worrying pattern in Perez’s driving style and marking a significant deviation from his previous image as a strategic and reliable driver on the track. This shift raises concerns about his future performances and the implications for his team and the broader racing strategies in Formula 1.