Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) finished third in the 2022 Abu Dhabi F1 GP. It was a deplorable season finale, just 1.3 seconds off second place in the Drivers’ Championship.
While teammate Max Verstappen was in complete control of the race from the start to the checkered flag, it was Sergio Perez who created the most excitement. Coming into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level with Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) on 290 points, the Czechs needed to finish ahead of Leclerc to secure second place in the drivers’ standings.
Sergio Perez took the front row in qualifying and seemed to have the upper hand. In the early stages of the race, it looked as if the team were on course to secure a double in the Drivers’ Championship, the first in the team’s history.
However, against Sergio Perez who picked 2 stops, Charles Leclerc gets away with 1 stop.
Max Verstappen was in complete control of the race in the lead and radioed Lambiase, saying: “The tires are fine, so tell Czech to give it his all.”
With five laps to go, Sergio Perez closed the gap on Charles Leclerc to nearly four seconds. And before the last lap, the difference was 2 seconds. But Leclerc’s tires held up. Perez kept pushing until the final checkered flag, but time and laps ran out and 2nd place in the drivers’ standings slipped away from him.
“I’m happy because I gave it my all today,” said Sergio Perez.
“In the end it wasn’t enough, but sport is like that. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”
“It’s disappointing to miss out on second place in the drivers’ standings by a second. There are things we could have done better, but ultimately the most important thing in this sport is to never give up. This season I’ve been on and off the track. I’ve been I’ve stuck to that, so I can go home satisfied.”
“The most important thing about this season is that we have always given our all, and this was the last race. I am happy for the 2023 season, I will change my mind and aim for another strong year.”
Category: F1 / Sergio Perez / Red Bull / Formula 1 GP in Abu Dhabi
