Sergio Perez nearly took a sensational win for Sauber on this date four years ago. Then competing in his second Formula One season, the Mexican starred in a wild rain-soaked 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix to finish runner-up to Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.
Perez could have actually won the race had he not run wide while chasing the Spaniard hard. Some actually wondered whether the Ferrari-powered Sauber driver, who was on a faster tyre than Alonso in the closing stages of the race, did not make the mistake on purpose to ensure a Maranello victory. After all, Perez’ radio did crackle in the final laps with the following message: “Be careful, we need this position”…
