Perez relieved not to see ‘great recovery’ undone by Albon contact

Sergio Perez was relieved a late clash with Alex Albon didn’t greatly undo his “great recovery” during the Styrian Grand Prix.

The Mexican started down in 17th at the Red Bull Ring, having struggled in the wet in qualifying, but was back showing the pace seen in both Friday practice sessions in the dry on Sunday.

Having moved up to fifth ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Perez gradually closed in Albon for fourth but damaged his front wing as he tried a late move on the Thai driver with two laps to go. 

“I think it was a great recovery. Great pace from the car, the team had a fantastic strategy,” he commented via Sky Sports.

“We were nearly P4 in the end. I was pushing really hard on Albon and I didn’t have any opportunity other than the one that I took.

“I understeered a bit towards the exit. I opened up the steering wheel while picking up the power and then I broke the whole front wing.

“I was very lucky just to lose one position from that,” he admitted. “One more lap [and] we may have been out of the points but luckily we managed to get the result.”

Perez acknowledged the move on Albon was a risk that he perhaps shouldn’t have taken in hindsight but with their charge on Sunday, Racing Point continued to prove that, on pure pace, they are third-best behind Mercedes and Red Bull.

“I had to give it a go, especially because we were pushing flat out with all that we had, and that was the only opportunity I was going to have but unfortunately, that didn’t work,” he said.

“If I were in that situation again I would have not gone for it, but I’m happy that we gave it all.

“I think we were once again in the race very unlucky, we should have been in fourth, not fifth. But I think it’s a good recovery and a good amount of points for the team. Now it’s game on for Hungary.”