“Sergio Perez Points to ‘Fundamental Issue’ After Shocking Q1 Exit in Las Vegas”
Sergio Perez’s nightmare qualifying streak continued at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix as the Red Bull driver found himself eliminated in Q1 for the second time in three races. Perez, who could only manage 16th place, attributed his struggles to a “fundamental issue” with his RB20, further compounding a frustrating 2024 season.
A Familiar Frustration
Speaking after his early exit, Perez didn’t hold back in describing the challenges he’s faced with his car.
“I think we’ve got a fundamental issue at the moment with the car that is just not working for me,” Perez explained. “We come to the weekends and explore a lot of things, but it’s just a difficult one to make it work.”
The Mexican driver emphasized how a lack of grip has hampered his confidence behind the wheel.
“When you don’t have that grip underneath you, it’s really hard, and you’re prone to a lot of mistakes. It’s not ideal—especially knowing what I can do.”
Tactical Misstep in Q1
Perez’s struggles were further exacerbated by Red Bull’s decision-making during qualifying. Reflecting on the session, he admitted that not using two sets of Soft tires in Q1 may have cost him a spot in the next round.
“In hindsight, we should have used two sets, given that we were not so competitive in Q1,” Perez said. “We’ve been lacking a lot of pace, and that’s been the main issue for us.”
He also pointed to issues in low-speed corners as a key weakness. “The main struggle is really that low speed with the tires—it’s where the main struggle comes from.”
Technical Limitations Hold Red Bull Back
Red Bull’s typically dominant form has been noticeably absent in Las Vegas, with both Perez and teammate Max Verstappen struggling to unlock the car’s full potential. Verstappen, who qualified fifth, faced challenges of his own, but Red Bull’s lack of a low-drag rear wing has been particularly costly on the Strip’s long straights.
Perez acknowledged the difficulty this poses for race day, where overtaking will require both strategy and precision. “It’s going to be tricky,” he admitted, “but we’ll try to fight through the pack.”
Hope for Redemption on Race Day
Despite his dismal qualifying, Perez remains optimistic about Red Bull’s race pace. Drawing on data from practice sessions, he believes the team is better equipped for the long run than for single-lap performance.
“I think tomorrow is going to be a very tricky one,” Perez said. “There’s a long race ahead, a lot of things will happen, and I believe we will be more competitive come race day. On Thursday, we looked a lot better over the long race than over a single lap.”
The Pressure Mounts for Perez
Perez’s continued struggles add fuel to speculation about his future at Red Bull. While his optimism for race day offers some solace, his performance gap to Verstappen and frequent qualifying woes underline a critical issue for both driver and team. With Red Bull’s car appearing increasingly temperamental on specific circuits, the team faces mounting pressure to resolve its inconsistencies.