SILVERSTONE, U.Okay. — Crimson Bull’s Sergio Perez was eradicated from the opening phase of qualifying on the British Grand Prix, marking his fifth straight failure to make the shootout for pole place.
Barring any penalties forward, Perez will begin Sunday’s race from sixteenth on the grid, whereas his Crimson Bull staff mate Max Verstappen is on pole.
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Perez received caught out by a late crimson flag within the first session of qualifying, which suspended observe motion whereas Kevin Magnussen’s stricken Haas was recovered from the circuit.
Perez was despatched out of his storage early earlier than the session had restarted and because of this his tyres cooled earlier than he made it on a humid observe, contributing to his poor efficiency.
“The crimson flag lasted longer than we anticipated initially, that did not assist for the temperature of the tyre,” he defined. “And yeah, only a disgrace to lose out as we had an ideal Friday, the race tempo was trying actually good, ranging from the again it’ll be one other race the place we attempt to minimise the harm.
“I believe on this circumstances it is the place I battle essentially the most with the automobile. My points with the automobile turn out to be extra obvious within the changeable circumstances, so I believe it is one thing as a gaggle we have to get on prime of and perceive what we’re capable of do higher, easy as that.”
Though Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner has supported him publicly, Perez’s place with the staff feels extra precarious by the week.
Perez’s hopes of difficult Verstappen to the championship have evaporated since successful two of the opening 4 races of the yr.
Verstappen has gained 5 consecutive races since, throughout which era Perez’s type has utterly crumbled — he additionally crashed throughout qualifying on the Monaco Grand Prix.
Qualifying is cut up into three segments, a 20-car session referred to as Q1, a 15-car session referred to as Q2 and a 10-car session referred to as Q3, the place pole place is determined.
The stats are damning for Perez. He has not began from a top-ten grid slot for 5 straight races and this yr has three eliminations in Q1 and Q2 apiece.
Verstappen, against this, has been on pole place at every of the final 5 races.