Sergio Perez says he “saw an opportunity” at the start of Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix and “went for it”, but the aggressive move ended in disaster for the local hero.
Perez enjoyed a strong launch off the grid from fifth and managed to draw level with poleman Charles Leclerc and his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen on the long run down to the first corner.
But as the three-wide trio entered Turn 1, Perez veered across and collided with the Ferrari, the contact sending the Red Bull airborne and into the run-off area, the crowd gasping in disbelief.
Unfortunately, the damage suffered by the RB19 upon landing proved terminal for the Mexican who managed to limp back to the pits where his DNF was confirmed.
"I had a tremendous start, the gap was there and to be honest, where I was starting the race, I would have been disappointed if I'd been on the podium knowing there was a chance of victory and I didn't take it,” Perez explained.
"I had a very good start, and I was only thinking of winning the race. I didn't want to be on the podium. I've been on the podium two years in a row.
"I saw the opportunity and I went for it. In hindsight, I took a risk, but if I had pulled it off I would have come out of Turn 1 in the lead."
Perez judged the run-in with Leclerc as a racing incident.
“There was no room for three cars, it was a total race incident,” he said. "I didn't expect Charles to brake so late since he was the car in the middle.
"He had a lot less margin than Max, who was on the inside, and I was the one who could brake the latest because I was on the outside."
Perez’s early retirement was obviously a massive blow for the Mexican’s congregation of fans that had packed the grandstands at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez all weekend.
"Yeah, it hurts a lot for them, but I'm going home at ease because I gave absolutely everything," commented the 33-year-old.
"Maybe if I had finished on the podium today knowing that I had the chance to win the race...
"It's sad for all the people, because I wanted to give them the victory no matter what."
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