Sergio Pérez was leading the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah from pole position until lap 14, but then his Formula 1 evening took a sudden turn: just as Pérez had completed his pit stop, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi and the safety car came out. Pérez’s pursuers were given a “free” stop and the Mexican lost the lead.
The Mexican bears his fate with composure and says in a first reaction to “Sky”: “It’s just racing. Especially here in Jeddah you know that such a situation can arise. It had looked good up until then. Unfortunately Latifi smashed his car into the wall at the wrong time for me.”
Pérez repeats himself: “That’s racing. And the tide is turning again.” In any case, he has nothing to blame himself for: “Today we did everything possible to win this race from pole position.”
Pérez: Not only lost the win, but also a podium
In fact, Perez controlled what was happening from the front, keeping Ferrari man Charles Leclerc, his closest pursuer, at a distance of more than two seconds. It was only after the safety car phase that his race was overturned.
“The safety car didn’t come at the best moment for us,” says Red Bull sports director Helmut Marko on “Sky”. “I think that cost Pérez a podium.”
Because after the safety car phase, Perez only found himself in fourth place. “That’s just the way it is: the safety car has winners and losers,” says Marko, adding: “Latifi brought us victory in Abu Dhabi, where Perez at least lost a podium.”
Not an ideal race from Pérez, even in front of the safety car
However, Pérez’s race was not as easy as it appeared from the outside, Marko continues. Because the early pit stop of the Red Bull driver was not planned: “He had a higher tire wear, so we had to get him in a lap earlier.”
Pérez later tried to regain at least one position, but ended up fourth behind Max Verstappen, Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. After all: In contrast to the Formula 1 opener, when both Red Bull cars had failed, both cars now saw the finish. “And that’s very positive for the team,” says Pérez: “I’m also very happy for Max. He put in a fantastic race. After the weekend in Bahrain, it’s great to have a Red Bull up there. We were in the Qualifying and ahead in the race, so it’s going to be.”