Sergio Pérez had already won two Grands Prix, but the first victory in Monaco was very special for him. The Mexican thinks he has become more popular in his home country with the victory in the principality.
“It means a lot to me to win here,” the Red Bull driver said with a laugh. “I am the only Mexican in this sport and the only one from Latin America. It is already difficult for us to get into Formula 1, so I am extremely proud.”
In his home country, Pérez has no complaints about attention. “But this victory is high on the historic list in Mexico”, the driver from Guadalajara was proud.
Pérez drove on Sunday with the helmet design of compatriot Pedro Rodríguez, the first Grand Prix winner in the premier class of motorsport. “He will be proud of me,” he said of the driver who died in 1971.
‘Team told me exactly what to do’
Max Verstappen’s teammate laid the foundation for the victory by driving a short stint on intermediate tires. With that, Perez passed Charles Leclerc. At the next stop to dry weather tires he also passed Carlos Sainz. That put the eventual winner in the lead.
“It wasn’t easy to stay clear under these conditions,” Pérez pointed out on the wet start of the race. He praised the right decisions made at the Red Bull pit wall. “The team told me exactly what to do.”
Sergio Pérez on the podium with teammate Max Verstappen.
Sergio Pérez on the podium with teammate Max Verstappen. Photo: AP
Pérez would have preferred not to change tires afterwards
In the final phase, Pérez still came under pressure. That was the result of the choice to go for medium tires after the red flag situation. “In retrospect, I think I would have preferred to have stayed on the hard tyres, just like the Ferrari driver.”
“I felt like I had everything under control, but all of a sudden I had problems with my tires. Carlos got close, but I always had good traction out of the corners. That way I could stay ahead of him.”
Despite pressure from the Ferrari driver, Perez never really feared an attack on his leading position. “It’s so narrow here. If necessary, I would have just parked the car in the hairpin”, the three-time GP winner concluded with a wink.