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Kevin Magnussen labels Sergio Perez’s lunge on lap 12 of the Japanese Grand Prix “a pretty desperate move”
Kevin Magnussen was left facing the wrong way in Japan, as he was tagged by Sergio Perez from behind. (Image Credit: @F1 on X)After successfully navigating his way through the lap-one carnage at the Japanese Grand Prix, it appeared that the Danish driver may have been on for a positive result. That was until Red Bull’s Sergio Perez came up behind him.
The Mexican driver had a disastrous weekend in Suzuka, even though his team secured the 2023 constructors’ world championship. After multiple laps trying to get past Kevin Magnussen, Perez made a highly ambitious lunge down the inside, which would eventually lead to the Red Bull driver’s retirement.
Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen collide! 😲 pic.twitter.com/I91XIMYCHX
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 24, 2023
Following the conclusion of the Grand Prix, Magnussen reflected on the incident telling various media outlets:
“I just got hit on my rear tyre. It was a pretty desperate move, but it is what it is. I got spun around. We had to pit.”
He continued, “That was too early for the two-stop strategy that we had and the tyre degradation we had on our car. It made that situation a lot worse by having to pit at that point. I didn’t really want to do a three-stop. That wouldn’t have worked either. It ended our race there, and his. But **** happens.”
Magnussen was clearly unhappy with Perez following the race, understandably so considering the Haas driver finished P15.
Magnussen isn’t Perez’s only critic following the Japanese Grand Prix
Former Formula One racing driver Timo Glock did not mince his words regarding Perez’s performance at Suzuka. The former Toyota driver said in his Sky Sports Germany column:
“Some of the mistakes Perez makes are simply incomprehensible given his experience and put him in a difficult starting position.”
He continued, “Sergio Perez has fallen off dramatically after a good start to the season. He no longer has a chance against [Max] Verstappen and little by little his limits have been shown to him, which is why he is probably pretty mentally down.”
While Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has insisted that Perez will retain his seat for 2024, there are no promises for 2025. Glock appears to agree with this sentiment and goes as far as to outline the drivers that will want his seat. The German said:
“Nevertheless, Red Bull has said relatively clearly that Perez will continue to sit alongside Verstappen next year. But of course, you bring in certain drivers like Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson, or Yuki Tsunoda who could take over if Perez doesn’t do a good job next year either, which would probably mean he wouldn’t be in a good position if his contract was extended.”
Feature Image Credit: @HaasF1Team on X
