F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Perez looking to pick-up the momentum from Spa onward

Refreshed and reinvigorated after  the summer break, Sergio Perez is ready to hit the ground running in Spa next weekend and hoping to add to his championship points tally at the Belgian venue.

While most of his past runs on the Ardennes track failed to deliver much in terms of results, last year Perez finished an impressive fifth, a performance he would be more than happy to repeat this year.

"The summer break was a great opportunity to relax, especially as this season is quite long and the races don’t leave us too much time to recover," Perez says.

"It was nice to spend some time in Mexico, with my family, my dogs and my friends: it’s always great to go home and I can’t wait to be back there later in the year when we come racing in Mexico City."

"The key to being fast around Spa is having a good rhythm and enough downforce to be quick in the corners without losing too much on the straights.

"You want to be able to attack and defend in sector one, but not have too little wing to be struggling in the twisty parts of sector two. It’s a fine balance you need to strike and it can make or break your weekend.

"There are many fast corners and you pay a price for all mistakes because it’s an old-school track with not much run-off. It’s one of the circuits where the driver can make a difference and bravery is rewarded."

Perez's season to date has been marked by a slow start, with no points scored in the first three races, and then a consistent run in the points from Russia to the European and a couple more top 10 finishes at Silverstone and Hockenheim.

The Mexican is now looking to pick up the momentum in the final leg of the championship.

"We have been really strong in the last few races before the break and hopefully we can keep this form in the second part of the season.

"Being in the battle for fourth place in the championship gives us a lot of motivation and we approach every weekend knowing we can be strong.

"I am enjoying my driving and working with the team, and I think we have everything in place to be competitive this weekend."

"Spa is one of the most historical tracks; one of those kids dream about, with legendary corners like Eau Rouge. You never get a boring race there.

"I have got some great memories from Spa: I won there in GP2 and I had a battle for the lead against Hamilton on the first lap last year."

GALLERY: F1 drivers on summer break

Pascal Wehrlein interview: The rookie who wants to lead

F1i Classic - Mayhem, monsoon and the mother of all Belgian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen interview: Destined to be a champion?

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.

Recent Posts

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 in trouble-free FP1

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…

46 mins ago

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United…

50 mins ago

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

10 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

11 hours ago

F1 drivers blindsided by race director Wittich’s sudden exit

The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…

13 hours ago

McLaren relaxes ‘papaya rules’: Norris and Piastri free to race

Oscar Piastri has confirmed that McLaren’s team orders—dubbed the "Papaya Rules"—have been largely relaxed, giving…

14 hours ago