Residence hero Perez expects ‘powerful’ Mexico Metropolis qualifying battle after ‘tough, tough day’

Residence favorite Sergio Perez stated his first runs on the excessive altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez have been powerful as he expects Ferrari and Mercedes to provide Purple Bull a run for his or her cash in Mexico Metropolis.

Perez enters his dwelling race having loved his most profitable season in F1, the Mexican driver having gained the Monaco and Singapore Grands Prix and scored seven different podiums – all second-place finishes – in 2022. However Friday operating, which noticed him end third in FP1 after which fifth within the FP2 Pirelli check, wasn’t simple.

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“Yeah, it was a tough, tough day as standard in Mexico with the altitude, every little thing is floating round so pretty simple to make errors in these circumstances,” he stated. “So, total, I feel clearly FP2 was primarily for Pirelli however [in] FP1 we received a great base, and we appear to be there.

“Ferrari appear to be robust, additionally Mercedes, so it’s going to be a troublesome battle tomorrow,” added Perez.

“I feel we received up to the mark pretty rapidly [in FP1] so needs to be easy tomorrow hopefully. However you may at all times count on various things tomorrow.”

Workforce mate Max Verstappen, who spun on his option to P4 in FP1 (above), stated the observe was as slippery as ever.

“Yeah, simply had a second: as quickly as I got here a bit off line it was like ice, so I used to be simply drifting left, drifting proper, and at one level when it goes, you simply have to carry the brakes and it simply hits the wall.”

The 2-time Method 1 champion added that he’s heading into the unknown after only one run on the mushy tyres, in FP1, earlier than he took P6 on the prototype Pirellis in FP2.

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“I imply on the mushy [compound] every little thing was alright, however we solely had one run on them, after which in FP2 we needed to do the tyre testing once more. That makes it a bit bit harder and a bit extra unknown once more like final weekend, for everybody, however the more durable compounds are a bit extra tough,” defined the Dutchman.

Purple Bull entered Mexico Metropolis having wrapped up each the drivers’ and constructors’ championships for the primary time since 2013. Now Perez goals to ship a historic dwelling win in entrance of a capability crowd.

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