Perez ‘struggling a lot’ at home Mexico GP after disappointing qualifying

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has claimed he’s ‘struggling a lot’ after he endured a ‘disappointing’ qualifying session at the Mexico Grand Prix. 

Feature image credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Perez endured a painful exit of qualifying at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez which the Mexican driver described as ‘disappointing’ after being eliminated after the first third. 

The #11 Red Bull was heading to Mexico to enjoy his home race and seek a much-needed morale boost in front of his home. 

However, Perez has deemed braking was his issue this weekend with him being unable to ‘brake or stop the car’ to attack the braking zones which saw him drop out of qualifying alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

“It is a disappointing way to end my qualifying,” said Perez. “We definitely had more pace but I am struggling a lot, it is similar issues to Singapore and Austin. Into the low speed, I cannot brake or stop the car and as soon as I attack the braking I start sliding and locking up. 

“So that is my main issue and where I am struggling the most, here it showed even more. There are four races to go and we have to get on top of the issues as a Team. I am having to modulate the braking too much and just don’t have confidence in the car. Here is the worst place to not perform, I am super disappointed.

“The Grand Prix where I wanted to do the best possible job, it is just not coming together.”

Two big names have been knocked out of qualifying for the Mexico GP! #F1 / #MexicoGP https://t.co/ZGxKFcz61h

— Apex Motorsports (@ApexMSPRT) October 26, 2024

Qualifying marked the first time in Perez’s Red Bull career that he has failed to qualify inside the top five at his home race. 

In the final runs of Q1, Perez did set a lap time to take him out of the elimination zone but it was 15th and at risk of being dropped out of qualifying. His early departure from the session, and his home qualifying event, was brought by the hands of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who went third-fastest before dropping to fourth at the end of the session.   

Despite the low starting position, the Mexican driver is hoping that he will be able to take home some points as he claims he ‘owes’ the fans.

“I hope tomorrow we can enter the points,” commented Perez. “I need to try and maximise the day, it is going to be very hard but I owe these fans, they are the best in the world, this is the best race in the world.”

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Third-row start for Mercedes F1 duo was ‘best’ team could manage
• Sainz takes pole ahead of Verstappen for Mexico GP
• Perez and Piastri suffer shocking Q1 eliminations of Mexico GP
• Piastri tops undisturbed final practice ahead of Norris at Mexico GP
• FIA reject McLaren’s right of review following US GP penalty
• Sainz tops extended Mexico GP FP2 as Russell has heavy crash

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.