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Perez 'caught out' by Stroll's race pace

Published on 14 Aug 2019 17:16
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By: Fergal Walsh

Sergio Perez has admitted surprise over Lance Stroll's race pace this season, in what is their first as teammates at Racing Point.

Stroll has four top-ten finishes to Perez's three so far this year, with the latter failing to score points at the last eight races.

Stroll joined Racing Point for the 2019 campaign after his father led a consortium of investors to take over the team formerly known as Force India, after it slipped into administration in August, 2018.

MORE: Perez: F1 should aim for 2012-esque season 'very soon' | Racing Point pleased with 'good combination' of drivers

The Canadian driver is yet to out-qualify Perez this year, but sits four places ahead of the former McLaren driver in the drivers' championship.

"I think since he came I’ve been surprised with his race rhythm, that’s something that caught me out,” Perez told RACER.

“I seemed to have a bit more of an advantage historically to my previous team-mates, especially on race pace, and with Lance, the first time, he was up there.

“I think his race pace is quite good. He’s improving. I think the driver he is today to where he was when he arrived, he has improved massively, so there is a lot to come from him.

"I think he has performed quite well. He is a racer, like me, on Sundays, so he’s done a pretty good job considering the car we’ve had all the way to now.”

Perez takes responsibility for Germany crash

Stroll's high position in the standings compared to Perez is largely down to the fourth-place finish that he secured at the German Grand Prix.

Perez crashed out of the race early on, which the Mexican takes full responsibility for.

“I started the season well,” he said. “I’ve been driving pretty well, no mistakes, maximizing the potential of the car, all the way through the first part of the season.

"Germany, I have to take responsibility for that, that has an impact on my season until the summer break. But overall a lot of positives to take, and I expect to have a very strong second half of the season.”

Kean

Posts: 692

Remind me, has Perez ever spoken so well of his current team mate? I know he spoke highly of Hülkenberg prior to this season, but the way he's talking about Stroll seems a bit contrived. Sure Stroll is now ahead on points, but Perez out-qualifies him every time and is the better racer. Stroll go... [Read more]

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Aug 14 2019 - 20:01

F1 News Sergio Perez Lance Stroll Racing Point

Replies (3)

Kean

Posts: 692
Remind me, has Perez ever spoken so well of his current team mate? I know he spoke highly of Hülkenberg prior to this season, but the way he's talking about Stroll seems a bit contrived. Sure Stroll is now ahead on points, but Perez out-qualifies him every time and is the better racer. Stroll got lucky in a topsy-turvy race (yes, yes Perez screwed up in said race). It feels a bit like he´s just careful not to offend daddy Stroll. I will admit that Stroll is a far better racer than qualifier, but he´s not on Perez's level. Far from it.
- + 1
- Aug 14 2019 - 20:01
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I believe he spoke highly of Ocon too. He's been going about the good ol' uptalking his team mate to look better, I suppose.
  + 1
  
  Aug 14 2019 - 21:58
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  Could be some brown nosing for the boss, but Perez generally acts like a gentleman even when we might expect sparks from him. In a tight midfield Stroll has done, well meh, so so. Perez is a good benchmark for him an aside from the one good result he hasn't matched his teammate's performance.
  + 1
  
  Aug 15 2019 - 02:46