Investigations against Verstappen and McLaren

Horner: Perez could have won

The Red Bull team boss explains Heaventhat the decisive scene in the Mexican's race had already taken place before the accident, when Lando Norris held him up for a while.

“He lost valuable time behind Lando, which gave Oscar the position on the track. I think he would have won the race today if that hadn't happened,” said Horner.

After his pit stop, Piastri returned to the track just ahead of Perez. “He deserved a lot more,” Horner emphasised, explaining that the crash with Sainz was “very disappointing”.

“He should have at least been on the podium today,” he stresses.

The Perez-Sainz crash…

… is also available here again in full video:

Sainz: I didn’t do anything unfair

An investigation is still ongoing against Perez and Sainz. The Spaniard himself says that it was a “major accident”. “Unfortunately, I hit the barrier directly on the concrete wall,” he reports.

“I was pretty fast behind Charles and Checo, I had also saved my tires. I overtook Checo when he was battling with Charles. And then we came out of Turn 2.”

“I drove my normal racing line, I didn't do any strange maneuvers or anything. And for some reason that I still don't understand, we collided,” ponders Sainz.

“I think he had a lot of space on the left side. I didn't make any strange movements, but that's how it is in racing,” he shrugs and emphasizes: “Charles in front of me is also moving to the left. Of course, I'm just following his slipstream.”

Wolff: Ferrari and McLaren “too far away”

Mercedes was quite lucky to end up on the podium. “No,” answers team boss Toto Wolff at Heaven So, honestly, when asked whether he expected a top-3 result today?

“It’s simply about tire management and […] How to manage the race. “And of course the pace of Piastri and Leclerc was way off our level because the tires were totally massacred and they were still fast, and we can't do that,” he explains.

After all, there was “a lot to learn and hopefully apply to Singapore.” For Hamilton, racing from the pit lane was also “an additional experiment,” “and it was definitely worth it,” said Wolff.

The bottom line is: a happy third place and a lot of important data for the future.

Why was Verstappen so slow?

Helmut Marko tried his hand at ServusTV on an explanation: “In general, our speed was too slow with Max. With Checo, it was fine. Max had very fast laps in between, but could not drive it continuously.”

The reason for this is the set-up. If you overdo it with the RB20, “you suddenly lose performance, and that was the case today,” said Marko, “and the tire wear was also significantly higher than with Checo. He also had braking problems.”

“So everything has come together. But let's put it this way: we're heading in the right direction. But I'm afraid we won't be able to make any progress before Austin. So we still have to get through Singapore,” he stresses.

Meanwhile, he says of the Perez-Sainz crash: “Perez was on his way to overtake Leclerc and slipped a little into the lane. Then Sainz overtook him, he overtook him back and then, as I saw it, there it was.” Sainz drove into Checo's car completely unmotivated.

McLaren incident

There is now an official FIA document on the McLaren investigation. It states:

“Alleged violation of Article 34.13 of the FIA ​​Formula One Sporting Regulations – Team Personnel and Equipment in the Pit Lane During the Race.”

There were apparently still employees and equipment in the pit lane while the race was still in progress.

It is important to note that there will be no sporting penalty for this, but probably a fine. Piastri's victory is therefore not in danger.

hearing

Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez have to go to the race stewards at 3:30 p.m. our time to answer for their crash shortly before the end of the race.

Expert Christian Klien says ServusTV “Sainz definitely didn't come over abruptly. He also tried to defend his position against Perez towards Turn 3.”

“Of course Sainz pulls slightly to the left, but it's not abrupt. The driver behind has to see that. I don't think Sainz is to blame, but I don't think Perez is either,” said Klien.

Unfortunately, there are no official documents yet regarding the other investigations, so we cannot say for sure which incidents exactly they are about.