Perez’s Q2 stumble leaves Verstappen fighting Mercedes single-handed

28 comments on “Perez’s Q2 stumble leaves Verstappen fighting Mercedes single-handed”

1. 

   Cristiano Ferreira
   28th March 2021, 0:59

   The only thing Checo can do, at least for this race is to put his Red Bull at least in 4th place, after all we can see that the car is good enough. I know it’s only the first race of the calendar but he cannot emulate the poor performances of Gasly and Albon if he hopes to remain a Red Bull driver for longer than 1 year.

   Also he needs to be close to / beating Bottas, and i think he showed he can do that despiste his problems in qually.
   1. 

      Cristiano Ferreira
      28th March 2021, 0:59

      *despite
   2. 

      alastair joyce
      28th March 2021, 7:12

      It is interesting on how most of the experienced drivers new to their respective teams are offering excuses for not being on the pace (DR excluded) They should all look at what George Russell did in the Merc! Are they admitting George is a freak or are they just not as good as they thought they were?
   3. 

      Esploratore (@esploratore)
      28th March 2021, 10:15

      Indeed, someone said he will get back to 6th but honestly that would be albon-like to me, so from perez I expect a 4th place and that is if nothing happens to verstappen or the mercedes.
2. 

   David BR (@david-br)
   28th March 2021, 2:04

   Unless, of course, Perez can make rapid progress through the seven cars which separate him from the leading trio.

   Perez’s more immediate problem is going to be Tsunoda right behind him on the grid.
   1. 

      faulty (@faulty)
      28th March 2021, 4:47

      You sir, are correct

      I expect Yuki and Lance to gain places at the lights. If that happens, the race from 4th downwards gets way more interesting.
      1. 

         Dex
         28th March 2021, 8:53

         Yeah, Lance may gain a place or two, but will it last… It rarely does. As for Yuki, I wish him a stable and clean race without unnecessary risks to build some confidence. The danger is that he knows he’s fast, he knows his car is quick and he knows he starts in a very poor position all things considered, after he tasted that great Q1. I don’t expect him to be patient and I recall Sato’s races. I hope he’ll have a great first season, I like having Japanese racers around (F1, MotoGP / GP500 before that and anywhere else). They always bring something different, a specific mentality that can be entertaining, yet sometimes stressful to watch due to inconsistencies and taking too many risks.
3. 

   LMB-F1 (@luis)
   28th March 2021, 2:28

   Checo has to take less time to catch his rhythm at 100%, RBR wants to fight for the championship, and for that he requires Pérez to be fighting points at the top, Checo has experience, tomorrow he has to leave clean at the first lap, and then focus on strategy to get to the last laps near the top and grab as many points as possible.

   The midfield is very tight, I hope we see a good race.
   1. 

      Esploratore (@esploratore)
      28th March 2021, 10:23

      He should be able to in the race, and don’t forget he was a bit of a victim in qualifying, you see how verstappen ended up 7th in q2 and perez 11th, had he managed to get 1 more place he’d have qualified decently in q3, and they both were on mediums while others ahead on q2 were on softs, so it was a risk to get a better performance in the race, which didn’t pay off for perez, when compared to albon and gasly, I remember them doing q2 on softs and even so barely beating verstappen’s medium times! They knew they had no chance on the same tyres, perez got close and it was his first red bull race.
4. 

   Kribana (@krichelle)
   28th March 2021, 4:01

   Perey has done a brilliant job, I’d say, but the field has just closed up to the extent that minor errors can be huge. If the top 3 remain close, it is crystal clear that Mercedes will attempt to pit one of their cars early. If this occurs, I expect it to be Bottas, with Hamilton going long on the stint. Although, are we expecting a one-stop race?
   1. 

      faulty (@faulty)
      28th March 2021, 4:49

      Talk of the race should be tires. We haven’t seen them being pushed/nurtured in a long-enough stint that also sees dirty air from competitive driving.
      1. 

         Kribana (@krichelle)
         28th March 2021, 5:31

         Looks like nobody knows if it’s a one-stop or two-stop? Mercedes have saved two sets of hard tyres, and I think Red Bull too.
   2. 

      Mcbosch
      28th March 2021, 7:28

      But with a closed up pack it’s not necessary possible because of the traffic
5. 

   Jere (@jerejj)
   28th March 2021, 6:26

   Red Bull have looked on course to win all weekend – will Mercedes deny them on race day?
   – No unless something comes into their favor.
   And who have you got your eye on for the season-opening race? – Mainly Perez and Tsunoda.
6. 

   Hans Herrmann (@twentyseven)
   28th March 2021, 7:06

   If Verstappen wasn’t there Hamilton would be purple in every sector, brilliant!!

   Ferrari for me are the huge surprise, Leclerc almost split them. What confidence from him to leave his one and only Q3 run to the end and then blitz it.. Both he and Carlos are quick in Q2 and slow in the speed trap which is more promising really.
   Perez is an expert at starting from P11 he’ll be in the mix at the end if he keeps it clean
   1. 

      Hans Herrmann (@twentyseven)
      28th March 2021, 7:23

      Correction: Leclerc almost split the Mercs and both ferraris are quick in sector 2 which means the car is handling well and possibly has more down force which will help with tyre wear in the race
7. 

   Mirko710
   28th March 2021, 7:08

   Unwanted Pierre could be of some help… last year AT made some gambles with the strategy. It worked few times.
   Can they afford to play like that when possessing genuine speed?
8. 

   Balue (@balue)
   28th March 2021, 7:29

   Shame with Perez, but it’s of course different when Verstappen is on pole. If he takes the start, and the race pace as we glimpsed in practice, it should be Ok as it’s likely Mercedes to wear their tyres out faster.
9. 

   Alistair
   28th March 2021, 8:42

   Perez should have an opportunity to come into play, particularly if he plays the long game on the first stint, the front runners could come out behind him.
10. 

    CarWars (@maxv)
    28th March 2021, 8:51

    The story repeats.. Redbull should have put him on soft and not risk damage to his confidence….
    1. 

       Jonathan Parkin
       28th March 2021, 9:20

       Was that RB’s choice or Perez’s?

       The best thing I can think of for Perez to do is not think about Verstappen just think about himself. Don’t worry what Max is doing just consider what he has to do to get further up. That’s what Damon Hill did in 96 after being battered by Michael the previous year.

       I’m looking forward to seeing what Mick does. If he gets to Lap 3 the sky is the limit
    2. 

       Francesco (@schivo69)
       28th March 2021, 9:51

       Agree 100%.

       They’ve should have addressed that, but they were probably too focussed on the pole. They put him at a greater risk of being caught In a first-lap contact that could cost him (and RB) dear.
11. 

    KaIIe (@kaiie)
    28th March 2021, 9:29

    With a 4-tenth advantage, I can’t see Mercedes catching Verstappen. No matter what kind of strategy they try, there is no overturning that kind of pace differential. But I hope I’m proven wrong.
    1. 

       Esploratore (@esploratore)
       28th March 2021, 10:31

       You used the word pace, but that is only qualifying, I think mercedes was better in the long runs, and also on the medium tyres, so we’ll see.
       1. 

          Esploratore (@esploratore)
          28th March 2021, 10:32

          I remember example a much smaller deficit in 2018 between mercedes and ferrari in the first race than qualifying.
    2. 

       Ajaxn
       28th March 2021, 13:48

       I’m waiting for Verstappen’s engine to blow. Redbull very likely have ‘his’ engine turned up to 11, with the expectation Verstappen will ‘manage’ that engine mode over the course of the race. If Mercedes can find a way to put him under preassure, we’ll see what he’s made of. I have the sense of a lot being gambled with this first roll of the dice.

       The rule changes on qualifying modes introduces the potential for all kinds of unfair play. In the same way Ferrari found a way to bend the rules on fuel management, that same potential exist with the rule on ‘party modes’.

       it means those who dare, can take that chance and potentially get away with it. At least before everyone knew where they stood.
12. 

    Ajaxn
    28th March 2021, 13:50

    Incidently since the ban on party mode has there been any statistical evidence on DNF’s occuring more frequently as teams gamble with that qualifying setting for the race?
    1. 

       F1oSaurus (@)
       28th March 2021, 16:13

       Well Verstappen DNF’d 3 time due to engine related issues and other more minor issues with his engines after the engine mode ban.

       I don’t remember other drivers having such issues. Indeed probably just a matter of going to risky with the engine mode for the race.

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