Sergio Perez faced a disastrous qualifying session at the British Grand Prix, occurring at a critical juncture. Perez acknowledged he disappointed the team by beaching his RB20 in the gravel during Q1, raising speculation of a potential mid-season dismissal from Red Bull.
Heading into Silverstone amidst a challenging streak, Perez had not finished higher than seventh in the past five races, prompting discussions about his future with the team. Reports from Auto Motor und Sport suggested Red Bull was considering replacing Perez mid-season, possibly with Daniel Ricciardo.
The timing of Perez’s qualifying mishap couldn’t have been worse. With just nine minutes remaining in Q1, he lost control trying to warm up his tyres at Turn Nine, locking up the rear tyre and sliding off track into the gravel. This error left him qualifying in 19th place.
Reflecting on his mistake, Perez told Sky Sports F1, “I misjudged the conditions. I was attempting to heat up the tyres going into Turn Nine, but as I downshifted, the rear tyre locked up, causing me to lose control and go off track. It’s deeply disappointing because letting down the team this way hurts a lot, especially considering how strong the weekend had been up until then. We just couldn’t demonstrate our true pace.”
Now facing a crucial race day, Perez must mount a significant recovery effort. Meanwhile, Ricciardo, who stands to potentially benefit from Perez’s situation, has also faced scrutiny over his recent performances.
Addressing the speculation, Ricciardo commented, “I never make predictions in this sport. Every year, it seems to grow bigger and become more ‘Hollywood’ in terms of its profile and the narratives surrounding it. It’s so unpredictable.”