Perez says British GP qualifying bust not the result of pressure

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Sergio Perez is a man under pressure but the Red Bull driver denies that his disastrous British GP qualifying was the result of mounting stress.

Perez will be starting Sunday's race at Silverstone a lowly 19th after a spin at Copse corner left his car stranded in the gravel trap after just a handful of laps in Q1.

The Mexican driver’s latest setback comes amidst a string of disappointing results and speculation about his future with Red Bull.

“T9 was tricky, really difficult,” Perez explained.

“When I downshifted, I basically lost the rear end quite badly and I went out of the track, and cold tyres and it was completely soaked of water outside of the track.

“So I just ended up going in the gravel, couldn't stop the car, couldn't go straight, very unfortunate incident.”

Read also: Ricciardo considered for dramatic mid-season return to Red Bull!

The 34-year-old’s qualifying disaster will have done little to help his cause amid his current performance slump and rumors that Red Bull is considering a mid-season change that could see Perez lose his seat with the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Although Perez was recently granted a two-year extension to his contract with the championship winning team, performances clauses do not guarantee his tenure.

However, Perez denied that external pressures were to blame for his mistake in Q1 on Saturday.

“No, no no no, that has nothing to do with it,” Perez insisted. “I'm fully focused on my job, I'm fully focused on getting the performance out of myself, I know where I can be.

“Yesterday we had a very positive day, things were looking in the right direction, so yeah, head down and it's a matter of time before we turn around the situation.”

Perez denied having any conversations with Red Bull’s top brass, Helmut Marko or team boss Christian Horner, about his current struggles.

“No, nothing about it, fully focused on my job, which is to deliver tomorrow,” he said. “I don't have to think about anything else.

“The most concerned about it is myself, so I want to get back to my form as early as possible, and yeah, just fully focus on my form.

“I'm fully committed to the team, I'm fully committed to my career,” he added of his current contract predicament,

“I have a contract with the team and I will turn things around.

“It's not something that distracts me or anything like that, it's something that is done and dusted and I want to get back to my form and focus on important things.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.