Friday, November 29

Bad start in Qatar: “Checo” Pérez was 18th in first free practices

Sergio Silva Avatar

By Sergio Silva

Nov 29, 2024, 11:48 AM EST

The Red Bull team started on the wrong foot the weekend of the Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate test of the 2024 Formula 1 season, after the Mexican Sergio “Checo” Pérez He will finish 18th and the new champion Max Verstappen will finish 11th in the first free practices.

The first and only training session was dominated by the Monegasque Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, who was followed by the two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri while the Argentine Franco Colapinto, from the Williams team, finished in 19th place. .

“Checo” Pérez, who hopes to shake off the streak of bad results this weekend, finished two seconds behind the time set by Leclerc (1:21.953). The man from Guadalajara completed 26 laps of the Lusail track where he emphasized testing the medium tires.

These are the results of the first free practice ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate test of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

It must be remembered that this Friday the qualification for the Sprint race that will take place this Saturday will take place, being the last short test on the calendar. After this weekend there is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to close the 2024 season.

For his part, the Dutchman Max Verstappen, who has just won for the fourth consecutive season in F1 last weekend in Las Vegas, did not have the expected performance in this Friday’s session, completing his time 1.2 seconds behind Charles Leclerc.

At Red Bull they want to take advantage of this weekend to try to close the gap with McLaren and Ferreri in the fight for the Formula 1 constructors’ championship where the Austrian team is in third place with 555 points, 29 behind the Italians already. 53 of the British.

Four-time Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen, during his tour of the Lusail circuit in Qatar in this Friday’s session.
Credit: ALI HAIDER | EFE

“Checo” Pérez confident in continuing at Red Bull

Once again the Mexican Sergio “Checo” Pérez expressed confidence in maintaining his position in the Red Bull team for next season in accordance with the contract he has with the energy drink team regardless of the rumors about his future away from Milton Keys.

“There is a reason we extended my contract during the year and the team has everything (what they need to know). “We know exactly where we are in terms of performance, in terms of problems and difficulties that we have had.”commented the one from Guadalajara upon his arrival in Qatar.

Although “Checo” Pérez has not had the expected performance in 2024, he signed an extension for two more seasons with Red Bull that he hopes to be able to fulfill. The Austrian team is aware of the Guadalajara’s decline and warned that he must improve in 2025 or else they will take action.

Keep reading:
– Lando Norris launches a harsh criticism against Sergio “Checo” Pérez before competing in the Qatar Grand Prix
– Franco Colapinto will run in Qatar with a helmet that honors the Argentine National Team that won the World Cup
– Yuki Tsunoda says he is “ready” to take the place of Mexican Sergio “Checo” Pérez in the Red Bull team