F1 News: Sergio Perez Offers Glimmer Of Hope To Red Bull - 'Looks Promising'

After a series of challenging races, Sergio Perez's promising performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix practice sessions offers renewed optimism for both himself and Red Bull Racing.

May 4, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) poses with first place trophy and Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez (11) poses with the third place trophy the after winning the F1 Sprint Race at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports / Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

After enduring a series of tough races, Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez has revealed renewed optimism following promising practice sessions at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Mexican driver, who has found himself struggling to secure points in recent outings, showcased significant improvements that may signal a turning tide for the seasoned driver.

In the initial practice session (FP1), Perez's performance placed him at 11th, a position far from his and the team's high standards. However, there was a notable shift in the second practice session (FP2), where he climbed to the fourth fastest, just two spots behind his teammate, Max Verstappen.

Perez shared his satisfaction with the day's outcomes, whilst speaking to the media. He commented, as quoted by Motorsport Week:

“It has been a good Friday. I think we made a good step from FP1 to FP2, we made the right changes and took the right direction.

“This is the most comfortable I have felt with the car at this stage of the weekend in a while.

“The steps we have made throughout the day have been the best we can do and that is really positive. We are feeling good and the long run looked promising too.

“I think we can still really dial up the set-up now and at the end of the day it is just about putting everything together at the right time.

“Our time will come, it’s head down for now and look forward to tomorrow. Let’s see what the rest of the weekend holds for us now.”

Despite not utilizing the same newly revised engine cover as Verstappen, Perez's improvements were significant. Verstappen remained focused on refining the car's performance. The reigning champion commented:

“I think we have had a good day with the upgrades that we have brought to this race,” the Dutchman expressed.

“Of course, there is still a lot to do to make sure we optimise the car, but I think it was a solid start to the weekend.

“It is important to try to look into all the details and work to make sure we have the best set-up possible for the car for qualifying.

“Of course, FP2 was a bit interrupted with the red flag so we didn’t manage to get the full long runs in that we wanted, but it was the same for everyone.

“We’ll look into things and work from there. All in all, it was a good start to the weekend.”