Sergio Perez Gets Called Out for “Really Stupid” Las Vegas GP Moment That Would Put Even a 13-Year-Old to Shame

Sergio Perez Gets Called Out for “Really Stupid” Las Vegas GP Moment That Would Put Even a 13-Year-Old to Shame

Sergio Perez seemingly regained some lost form as he stood on the podium at the 2023 Las Vegas GP. However, despite a solid result for the Mexican driver, a former Le Mans winner has called the Red Bull driver out for an embarrassing moment during the race that even a 13-year-old would be ashamed of, per F1Maximaal.nl.

On the very last lap of the 50-lap race, Perez was caught napping by Charles Leclerc as he dove down the inside of him and stole a last-ditch P2. This prompted 2015 Le Mans LMP2 winner Richard Bradley to remark, “There was a race when I was thirteen where I was really stupid and afterwards I knew I had made a mistake. I didn’t block in a way that was very similar to Pérez on the last lap. That shouldn’t happen when you’re thirteen years old, let alone when you’re in Formula 1.”

According to Bradley, Perez committed the cardinal sin of motor racing. Defending the inside line into a corner is a cornerstone of racing. However, inexplicably, Perez forgot that Leclerc’s Ferrari was in a prime position to capitalize on his folly. Bradley emphasized that even a 13-year-old won’t make such a rookie mistake.

Despite last-lap gaffe, Sergio Perez secures important milestone at Las Vegas GP

Even though he fell back to P3, Perez’s podium efforts at Las Vegas have sealed P2 for him in the Driver’s Standings in 2023. Lewis Hamilton was breathing down his neck in the later half of the season, however, he’s picked up some crucial points in the last couple of races and has fulfilled his objective.

According to Bradley, that was the saving grace for Perez. “To be honest, this would have been the last straw for me if he hadn’t finished second, because that shows that confidence has completely disappeared. That’s so bad.”

2023 has come as a rude awakening for Perez. While he has been under fire for his poor performances, his teammate, Max Verstappen, has been utterly dominant in the other RB19. So much so that rumors of the Guadalajara-born driver being sacked are floating around the paddock. Nevertheless, the fate of Sergio Perez at Red Bull is yet to be seen.

Post Edited By: Pritam Priyedarshi
Charles Leclerc ferrari Las Vegas GP Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen Mercedes Red Bull Sergio Perez

About the author

Anirban Aly Mandal

Anirban Aly Mandal is an F1 writer at The SportsRush, with over 1000 articles under his belt, Anirban's love for F1 started when he discovered a copy of F1 2014 on his computer. With over half a decade's worth of time spent religiously following the sport, he’s dived deep into the world of motorsports. However, Anirban's expertise goes beyond just writing - he has also written several academic papers focused on the domain of motorsports and the law. His passion for the sport is so immense that he aspires to work as a legal advisor in the most prestigious racing series in the world someday. When it comes to Formula 1, Anirban finds great pleasure in re-watching classic races and idolizes the likes of Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, and Sebastian Vettel. His top picks include Brazil '91, Silverstone '92, and Germany '19. Outside of the sport, Anirban is an avid sim racer, often found racing on titles like Assetto Corsa, F1 22, and Automobilista. Apart from his interests in gaming, Anirban has a keen interest in philosophy, literature and music.

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