Sakhir GP: Perez claims maiden F1 win after Russell heartbreak

Sergio Perez has claimed a remarkable maiden Formula 1 win, after Mercedes’ race unravelled in an incredible series of events at the Sakhir Grand Prix.

The Mexican had dropped as low as 18th after a Lap 1 clash with Charles Leclerc, but a brilliant fight back ensued before a pit-stop disaster and more for George Russell and Valtteri Bottas cleared the way for Checo to take victory.

Esteban Ocon made a one-stop strategy work to claim second, while Lance Stroll gave Racing Point a double podium finish in third.

Race Review:

A poor start for Bottas sees Russell takes the lead into Turn 1, with a slide for the Finn through Turn 2 seeing he, Perez and Verstappen go three-wide on the run to Turn 4.

At the corner though, it would be Leclerc who misjudged his braking, colliding into the Racing Point and sending the Red Bull into the barrier.

Perez was able to continue while a Safety Car was called to clear Verstappen and Leclerc’s cars.

The accident put Carlos Sainz up to third for McLaren ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, while Lando Norris goes from 19th to 10th.

At the restart, Sainz pulls the perfect move on Bottas for P2 into Turn 1, but goes wide at Turn 3, allowing the Finn back through.

This allows Russell to open up a two-second lead at the front, with the Briton controlling the race comfortably.

Instead, the main battle was for third, as an early stop for Kvyat moved him up to a net fourth behind Sainz and ahead of Ricciardo.

Those starting on the mediums though were able to go a lot further into the race, bringing a one-stop strategy into play.

That brought Ocon, Stroll and Albon back into play, with Perez also making a brilliant recovery after his Lap 1 clash to pass Ocon for what was at the time fifth.

In the lead, Russell pitted for the hard tyre, extending his lead up to over eight seconds through the pit-stop phase by pitting four laps earlier than Bottas.

After the stop, however, George reports low power on the straights with Bottas gaining four seconds with the help of a Virtual Safety Car as Nicholas Latifi retired.

The race though would turn on its head as Jack Aitken wiped off his front wing against the barrier at the final corner, triggering a Safety Car.

Mercedes made a late call to pit both cars but would fit Russell with Bottas’ tyres, forcing them to re-fit the Finn with his hard tyres upon realising the mistake.

That moment would cost Valtteri over 27 seconds, dropping him behind Perez, Ocon and Stroll.

Russell also pitted again for his set of medium tyres falling to fifth, but would soon pass Bottas with a cheeky move at Turn 7 and ease ahead of Stroll and Ocon up to second.

Just as the Briton seemed to have reclaimed victory from the jaws of defeat, defeat hit back as a left-rear puncture forced him back into the pits, dropping George out of the points.

That cleared the way for Perez to go and put all the wrongs of last Sunday and Lap 1 right and secure his first F1 win, completing a remarkable race.

Esteban Ocon also claimed his first podium in second for Renault, with Stroll holding off Sainz to finish third.

Ricciardo was fifth ahead of Albon and Kvyat, as Bottas fell down the field to eighth on his old tyres.

Russell did recover to claim what would be his first F1 points in ninth, but even that might be under threat as the stewards investigate him for running incorrect tyres.

Norris rounded out the top 10 for McLaren.

Outside the points, Pierre Gasly will be frustrated in P11 as Sebastian Vettel capped off another disappointing day for Ferrari in 12th.

The two Alfa Romeo’s followed with Antonio Giovinazzi ahead of Kimi Raikkonen. Kevin Magnussen was 15th as Aitken and Pietro Fittipaldi both finished their first F1 race at the back of the field.

An incredible race full of twists and turns which finally sees Perez do what he’s long threatened to and become a Grand Prix winner.

Now can someone please give that man a seat for 2021, yes we’re looking at you Red Bull.

Full results from Sunday’s race can be seen below: