Sergio Perez laments missed opportunities for aggressive strategy at US Grand Prix
- Rob Fleming
- 24 October 2023
Red Bull's Sergio Perez expressed his disappointment at missed strategic opportunities during the United States Grand Prix, where he started from ninth on the grid and finished fifth in Austin.
Despite challenging Carlos Sainz for fourth place on a traditional two-stop strategy, Perez felt that the team's conservative approach cost them potential gains on the racetrack.
The battle for fourth place took an unexpected turn, transforming into a fight for the final podium position after Lewis Hamilton, who had finished second, was disqualified due to excessive wear on the plank beneath his car.
This development served as a silver lining for Perez in his quest for second place in the Drivers' Championship, a position likely to be contested between him and Hamilton, as World Champion Max Verstappen secures his reign.
Perez, disappointed with the outcome, shared his thoughts before the news of Hamilton's disqualification emerged. "Of course, I would have liked a little more from the race," he told Viaplay, highlighting the difficulties in staying within the slipstream of the cars ahead and actively participating in the battle.
He also acknowledged moments where they could have executed an undercut on certain rivals but chose not to. "That's something we have to look at carefully, and there are things we can learn from," he added, reflecting on the need for a more aggressive strategy.
The fourth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix marked Perez's best result since his second-place finish at Monza five races ago.
Importantly, the increased points advantage over Hamilton in the fight for second place in the standings grew from 19 to 39, courtesy of Hamilton's disqualification.
Looking ahead, Formula 1 enthusiasts can gear up for the Mexican Grand Prix scheduled for the weekend of October 27-29 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
This track is renowned for its smooth tarmac, resulting in minimal tire degradation, and it places a premium on track position and tire selection due to the limited overtaking opportunities across the 4.304km lap.
As the season unfolds, it's clear that the strategic choices and decision-making in the races will play a pivotal role in determining the fate of drivers and teams in the championship standings.
