Perez: When the adrenaline is high, you forget about everything else

After the Austrian Grand Prix, Sergio Perez commented on the results and emphasized once again that he had been particularly difficult last weekend, including due to illness.

Question You had to work hard to work your way up the front after starting from 15th position and moving up to the podium, and this is the best result at the Red Bull Ring in your career. How do you rate it?
Sergio Perez: Yes, it is very nice to be back on the podium, especially on our team’s home track. This is a very special weekend for Red Bull Racing, although it started very badly for me…

I don’t know how to say it, I don’t want to use harsh words, but if we talk about the problem related to the limits of the track, I think everyone had to deal with it at some point over the weekend . I hope when we come back here in a year they can sort it out somehow.

In any case, it was thanks to her that we started the race from 15th position and we just had to fight our way to the front. We showed great pace, I had some nice duels on track, but at least everything ended well, especially as I’m not in 100% physical shape yet. But when the adrenaline kicks in, you forget about everything else.

Q: How difficult was the race in terms of tactics?
Sergio Perez: I think we need to analyze our actions during the period when the virtual safety car regime was announced. And there are also some questions about the tactics we followed at the end of the race when we switched to hard tyres. But overall the tactics weren’t bad because I got on the podium.

Q: Which of the battles on the track did you like the most?
Sergio Perez: I think with Carlos and Lewis – battles with them were most acute. But fighting Carlos was a little more interesting.

Question: On the radio he told the team that you tried to scare him…
Sergio Perez: I’ve heard it! But we haven’t spoken to him yet, so I don’t know what he meant.

Q: Don’t you think you acted particularly aggressively with him?
Sergio Perez: Not really. In my opinion, the fight was quite correct. The Ferrari car drove particularly well exiting Turn 3. In one episode I took the inside line at the entrance to Turn 4, but suddenly I saw the Haas car stop there, so I had to slow down, which probably made the fight with Sainz take longer than I’d like, but we won in the end.

Question: You seem to be in a good mood – does this mean you have returned to the previous level?
Sergio Perez: Yes absolutely. I think we managed to solve the problems that prevented us in previous races. If we hadn’t had any problems on Friday, the result in qualifying would have been different, because we have good speed in one fast lap.

Q: On Wednesday evening and Thursday you were unwell – can you tell us more about how you felt and are you fully recovered?
Sergio Perez: Absolutely, there is nothing good in the fact that I could not fully rest. Every night I had a fever, and when that happens you have to take medicine, which automatically means I’m not 100% in shape.

In Formula 1, the taxes are very high and I was very sick, so I hope I can recover in a few days, because at Silverstone we are waiting for another very difficult race. My condition is still far from ideal.

Q: After the tragic incident at Spa on Saturday, Lance Stroll said the configuration of the Raidillon corners needed to be changed. Do you agree? It’s already been corrected. Don’t you think Formula 1 is taking an unjustified risk because you have a race on this circuit in a few weeks?
Sergio Perez: I think there is still room to improve the exit from the Eau Rouge and I hope the barriers can be pushed further back so that cars cannot return once they have left the track.

However, it seems to me that the main problem is precisely related to track conditions, because it seems to me that fans and social networks sometimes put pressure on race management. People sit at home, watch TV and it seems to them that the conditions on the track are quite normal, but the main thing is visibility.

And it’s not about the leader of the race and not who comes second. We are talking about those who are in the 10th, 15th or 20th position. They also need to see at least something on the track. I think in Formula 1 and in other categories it is necessary to ensure that the race is only held when it is safe for everyone, so that all drivers can at least see something on the track.

Accidents are not excluded anyway, but situations in which riders have to steer almost blindly and at the same time go full speed are not allowed. If it means delaying the start time and not starting the race if there is too much water on the track, then so be it. Measures must be taken to ensure the safety of all riders.