Red Bull’s Sergio Perez experienced a disastrous first lap of practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his fifth consecutive failure to qualify in the top 10.
Perez, of Mexico, slipped his wheels onto the grass during the Turn Five hairpin, leading to a collision with the wall. The crash provoked a red flag period to retrieve the damaged vehicle, during which rain began to pour, denying other drivers any dry practice time.
The quickest in the session was Mercedes’ George Russell, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Fernando Alonso, in his Aston Martin, was ahead for a while but had to pit just before the session ended, even though the track conditions were progressively improving.
Only 11 drivers managed to set lap times, with championship frontrunner Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton missing from the list.
The crash further compounds the pressure on Perez, who has been struggling to perform in recent races. His post-crash radio transmission revealed his realization of the error’s significance: “I can’t believe this,” Perez exclaimed.
Christian Horner, Team Principal, attributed the incident to a mere miscalculation on Perez’s part, saying, “He just misjudged it. It was just a mistake. You could hear the frustration in his voice.”
Perez’s hope to contend for the championship against teammate Verstappen has dwindled due to a series of mistakes that have marred his season. Concurrently, Daniel Ricciardo, former Red Bull racer and seven-time race winner with the team from 2014-18, has reentered the grid as Alpha Tauri’s replacement for Nyck de Vries, who was dismissed last week.
Ricciardo’s ambition is to perform well enough with Alpha Tauri to regain a position at Red Bull. Despite this, Perez, contracted with Red Bull until 2024, claimed Ricciardo’s return wouldn’t affect his future, which he maintained was in his control.
Horner opined that Perez was exerting unnecessary pressure on himself, suggesting post-British Grand Prix that Perez needed “a clean weekend.” This aspiration is already in tatters at Hungary. Still, the rainy weather might have prevented Perez from falling further behind since other drivers couldn’t test their cars under dry conditions.
Later in the session, drivers attempted to navigate the wet conditions with intermediate tyres. Carlos Sainz spun out at Turn Three, lightly hitting the wall and damaging his front wing. He found himself stranded on the kerb, unable to restart. Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda also struggled with the weather, damaging his front wing in a spin.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sergio Perez Crash
Who crashed during the first lap of practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez crashed during the first lap of practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Has Perez had any recent issues with qualifying?
Yes, Sergio Perez has failed to qualify in the top 10 for five consecutive races leading up to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
How did the crash affect other drivers during the practice session?
The crash caused a red-flag period during which rain began to fall. This prevented other drivers from getting any dry running.
Who was the fastest in the practice session?
Mercedes’ George Russell was the fastest in the practice session, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in second.
What was team principal Christian Horner’s comment on the incident?
Christian Horner, the team principal, mentioned that Sergio Perez just misjudged it and it was a simple mistake.
Is there any change in Perez’s position with Red Bull due to Ricciardo’s return?
Sergio Perez, who has a Red Bull contract for 2024, has stated that Daniel Ricciardo’s return doesn’t change anything for him, insisting that his future is “in his hands”.
Did any other drivers experience problems due to the wet conditions?
Yes, Carlos Sainz and Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda both had issues in the wet conditions, resulting in damaged front wings for both.
More about Sergio Perez Crash
- More about Sergio Perez’s season
- Latest News about Hungarian Grand Prix
- Information about Red Bull Racing
- Profile of Christian Horner
- Daniel Ricciardo’s Career Highlights
7 comments
o man, not again! Perez just can’t catch a break this season can he?
lol looks like the rain’s the real MVP here. Saved everyone else from learning less about their cars.
Good to see George killing it in the practice session! Hoping he can keep the momentum in the main event.
C’mon Perez, u got this! jus’ a small setback. we’re all rooting 4 u!
Where were Max and Lewis this time round? Didnt see them setting any lap times…
Alonso’s doing great, wasn’t he? He pitted just a few mins before the end but was the fastest. Impressive!
Tense times for Perez, especially with Ricciardo back on the grid. Hope he pulls through. Fingers crossed!