Perez’s Phenomenal Recovery at Las Vegas GP Cements His Stand in F1 Championship

In a stunning display of skill and strategy, Sergio Perez surged to a podium finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking a significant moment in the 2023 F1 season. Red Bull’s Christian Horner praised Perez’s resilience and form, solidifying his spot in the drivers’ championship.

Key Takeaways:

• Perez’s Comeback: Despite facing early challenges, including a collision and damage to his front wing, Perez impressively climbed from P11 to briefly secure the second position in a remarkable show of tenacity.
• Team Strategy: The cooperative strategy of Red Bull, particularly Max Verstappen’s support in offering a tow, played a crucial role in Perez’s performance, though it fell short in maintaining his second place.
• Championship Impact: This race was pivotal in reinforcing Perez’s standing in the world championship. Christian Horner’s commendation for Perez’s recent form, coupled with Red Bull’s historic achievement of securing the first two places in the Drivers World Championship, underscores the team’s success.

In the action-packed Las Vegas Grand Prix, Sergio Perez, the resilient Mexican driver for Red Bull, encountered an early hurdle, colliding with Valtteri Bottas and suffering front wing damage. Nevertheless, Perez showcased his exceptional racing prowess and determination by battling back into contention, even surpassing teammate Max Verstappen to momentarily hold second place.

As the race neared its climax, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc managed a critical move, overtaking Perez and pushing him to third. Despite this, Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, remained highly positive about Perez’s performance. In his interview with Sky Sports, Horner lauded Perez’s extraordinary recovery from an initial setback and emphasized the strategic team efforts, notably Verstappen’s move to slow down and provide Perez with a tow.

Horner explained, “You get the benefit in the middle sector, you lose out if you’re not in a DRS train. Max was dropping back at the end of the race there to try and give him a bit of a tow. And it just wasn’t quite enough today. But coming from the back of the grid, after a nose change on the first lap, I thought he drove a great run.”

This race was a testament not only to Perez’s driving skills but also to his growing stature in the championship race. With this performance, Lewis Hamilton can no longer surpass Perez in the standings, a significant milestone for the Red Bull racer.

Horner proudly reflected on the team’s achievements, stating, “Because as a team we’ve never achieved [this] before. I mean, what more can you ask for from your drivers than first and second in the Drivers World Championship? His pace was right there again today. So, the last two or three races, he’s really been finding his form again.” This race, therefore, not only highlighted Perez’s resilience and skill but also marked a historic moment for Red Bull in the 2023 Formula 1 season.