A brand new Purple Bull chassis did not assist Sergio Perez flip his fortunes round as he may solely qualify in thirteenth place for the dash race in Brazil.
The under-fire Purple Bull driver continues to battle for kind after a poor efficiency within the US GP in Austin adopted by his surprising dwelling race in Mexico final weekend, the place he completed seventeenth.
The strain on Perez is ramping up, and once more questions have resurfaced as as to if he will probably be retained by Purple Bull subsequent season, regardless of having a contract in place.
Perez was quizzed about his newest poor outcome and reeled off an inventory of excuses.
He mentioned: “We had FP1 after which we had a bit little bit of understeer with the observe [temperature] coming down.
“We tried to [deal with] it with the brake stability and the instruments which can be obtainable after which I ended up a bit bit too rear-limited.
“After which was a bit complicated on the programme. We thought we would have an opportunity for a second lap, and sadly, we did not.
“Immediately we did battle fairly a bit and looking out ahead to tomorrow’s qualifying, actually. We received caught out with the circumstances, sadly. And that actually was the tough bit.”
Purple Bull boss Christian Horner had earlier revealed the crew had reverted to an previous chassis to assist increase Perez’s confidence.
Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs
Horner once more pledged his assist for his driver however stopped in need of offering a ringing endorsement.
He mentioned: “We’re doing our greatest to attempt to assist rebuild his confidence. He had a horrible weekend in Mexico.
“We have modified his chassis this weekend. It is an older chassis, that we have put him into simply to present him that further increase of confidence.
“Sergio is a seasoned campaigner. He is been round lengthy sufficient that he is aware of this can be a results-based enterprise.
“He is aware of that this season has been under-par for him. No one’s extra aware of that than Sergio, however we’re doing our greatest that we are able to to assist him.”
In the meantime, team-mate Max Verstappen will line up on the second row after qualifying in fourth place for the dash.
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The world champion additionally criticised the bumpy observe for not serving to his trigger.
He mentioned: “As quickly as we went into qualifying, it appeared like we had been undoubtedly off the tempo.
“The automotive was a bit tough on the bumps. They did the resurfacing however they really made it worse to drive. It is extraordinarily bumpy all over the place, in order that’s not good for our vehicles.
“All of the bumpy areas, the automotive is leaping round lots, and it is costing me fairly a little bit of lap time.
“Usually while you’re already fairly a bit off over one lap, I do not assume we’re notably robust within the race. So we’ll should see how that goes tomorrow within the dash.
“I additionally know there’s possibly some climate round that may come, however possibly not for the dash.”
