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Sergio Pérez is celebrated in Mexico by his team - and by the audience
Photo:
HOCH ZWEI / imago images / HochZwei
Everything is "good":
The Red Bull is chasing the Mercedes, it was getting closer and closer, on the home straight it is already within striking distance, Lewis Hamilton defends himself skillfully. The condition of the car is transmitted via radio in encouraging words ("pace is good, tires are good, battery is good"), which means something like: attack! The fans in the stands are loud, thousands of them cheer on their hero. But it is not about the possible new world champion Max Verstappen. It's Sergio Pérez. At the Mexican Grand Prix, Hamilton, the reigning world champion, came under pressure from the teammate of his World Cup rival, who at that time, ten laps before the end, had long been unassailable for a cozy coffee trip to his 19th Grand Prix victory.
The result:
Verstappen's lead over Hamilton in the drivers' standings then swelled to 19 points in the championship, the latter saving his second place ahead of Pérez over the finish line. Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started from pole, was only 15th after several incidents. Read the race report here.
The start:
immediately caused a stir. Although the two Mercedes had secured the front row, Verstappen benefited from Bottas' slipstream in third place, drove past the Finn at the end of the start-finish straight and braked so late before the first corner that he also passed Hamilton. It got even worse for Bottas: his Mercedes was touched at the rear by Daniel Ricciardos before turn two and spun, the McLaren lost its front wing. During the subsequent safety car phase (rookies Mick Schumacher and Yuki Tsunoda had to park their cars after contact with Esteban Ocon) Bottas and Ricciardo pitted and initially sorted themselves back into the field at the end of the field.
"He's too fast":
Even after the restart, Verstappen stayed in the lead and gradually expanded his lead over Hamilton: On lap eight it was 2.7 seconds (Hamilton: "He's fast!"), Twelve laps later it was 6.8, then 8.4 (lap 24). Verstappen's team-mate Pérez followed Hamilton like a shadow, on lap 21, 1.7 seconds behind, he was closer than ever. Because Bottas was still bobbing in the back of the field at the time, the sandwich position opened up tactical opportunities for Red Bull.
Even with tactics there is no getting around:
But first Mercedes acted. Hamilton was the first to pit from the lead on lap 30, but only came back in fifth with fresh tires. Verstappen stopped four laps later. He lined up behind the new leader Pérez, but still clearly ahead of Hamilton. It got loud in the stands when the Mexican took the lead - and he had some time to enjoy that feeling, as Red Bull only gave him new tires eleven laps after Hamilton. A move to put Hamilton under pressure at the end of the race with the then fresher tires.
In seventh heaven at 2,000 meters above sea level:
A Mexican has never won his home race, but Pérez - nicknamed "Checo" - was the first Mexican driver to make it onto the podium in Mexico City.
His supporters didn’t care that despite a last attack shortly before the end of the race, it wasn’t enough for second place, they celebrated him like a winner.
"Now it's time for some tequila!" He shouted.
The audience was so loud that he could even hear them in the car.
Fiery service:
Bottas, on the other hand, caught a used day.
The Finn, who after his brilliant qualifying for his final days of racing in the Mercedes seemed to be racing again, tormented Ricciardo for the majority of the race - and then his team also screwed up the second tire change.
He stood for 11.7 seconds, the left front tire could not be detached, fire broke out from the rim.
After the race, there was a ruffle from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who was annoyed that Verstappen could so easily overtake both Silver Arrows at the start.
In the end, Bottas Verstappen chased the fastest race lap.
However, since he crossed the finish line outside of the top ten, he didn't get a point for it.