Perez: “It was crazy!”

It’s a visibly tired, but relieved Sergio Perez who went through the traditional pre-podium interview. Starting only fifth after qualifying, he eventually secured a double for Red Bull by finishing second in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

From the eighth lap, “Checo” tried to overtake George Russel for the first time, then on the eleventh and fourteenth laps. During these moments, both men went straight at Rettifilo. As usual, with as much confidence as he has bad faith, Perez claimed to have been pushed, when it was not the case. And it was after a beautiful and fair overtaking maneuver that Perez finally passed the Mercedes driver on the sixteenth lap, on the straight line.

Confirming [his] good impressions felt during the tests, Perez had to assure [himself] throughout the competition. « “I passed Charles (Leclerc), then Carlos (Sainz), it was crazy! I pushed [my] tires [too hard]. Those were some tough battles!” »

Indeed, on the thirtieth lap, Perez initiates hostilities and attempts to pass Leclerc, without succeeding yet. The following lap, the Monegasque defends himself vigorously and Perez narrowly avoids crashing. The next lap, Perez overtakes Leclerc in the straight with remarkable skill.

He still had to catch up with Sainz, which he will do without incident until lap forty-three. There, at the Rettifilo chicane, Perez goes straight and blames Sainz (“he braked too late”). Once again, on lap forty-five, Perez has to give back the position (“he didn’t leave me any room”). And on lap forty-six, it’s a relief, he finally passes the Ferrari driver and heads towards the second place on the podium without any further concerns.

« We have made a lot of progress in terms of adjustments,” noted the Red Bull driver. « I feel happy in the car and I hope for the best in the upcoming races!”