Mexican media see Perez title chances slip away: "Dream looks bleak"
General
Sergio Pérez went into the Monaco Grand Prix with hopes of winning the prestigious race around the streets of Monte Carlo again and closing the championship gap to Red Bull Racing team-mate Max Verstappen. Although Verstappen was superior throughout the weekend, Perez looked likely to minimise the damage. However, a blunder in Q1 saw him crash into the barriers at the Sainte Devote corner, ending his qualifying prematurely. No one thought things could get any worse for the Mexican.
ESPN (Mexican branch)
The Mexican edition of international sports media and broadcaster ESPN opens with "Checo Pérez finished P16 in Monaco; a nightmare race". Recalling the Mexican's mistake on Saturday, the complexity of the task ahead of him on Sunday and the peculiar strategy chosen for the Mexican during the race, the media summarises Pérez's race as follows. "After his mistake on Saturday in qualifying, Checo Perez had no choice but to suffer on Sunday on the track trying to come back. Mexico's Checo Perez experienced his worst weekend of the 2023 season. His mistake in qualifying on Saturday put the cross on his forehead, and on Sunday, he had a glimmer of hope that was extinguished on lap 36. In the end, the Red Bull driver finished the race in 16th position."
As
As, agrees with the above summary and also glimpses a bleak future for 'Checo's' World Drivers' title aspirations. "Sergio Pérez had the worst weekend since he has raced for Red Bull. His qualifying crash cost him dearly at the Monaco Grand Prix, where he finished 16th with no points and Max Verstappen closing in on him in the drivers' world championship. The outlook for achieving that dream looks bleak for 'Checo'".
El Financiero
The Mexican newspaper El Financiero, headlines "Disastrous Monaco GP for 'Checo' Pérez: Verstappen wins 'calmly' despite the rain", not only focusing on the complicated race experienced by the Mexican but also rescuing the triumph of Max Verstappen. In addition, the media outlet takes the liberty of making a humorous allusion to Pérez's title in relation to his effectiveness on street circuits. "Sergio 'Checo' Perez, considered the 'King of the Streets' for his ability on street tracks, has seen a bad day for his 'reign' on the street circuit of the Monaco Grand Prix, the sixth in the Formula One World Championship, as the dream of a comeback ended early and he finished the race outside the top 10: in 16th position."
TVAzteca
The Mexican national media, TVAzteca, makes a resounding emphasis on the miserable race the Mexican had in Monte Carlo. "Checo Pérez went through hell at the Monaco Grand Prix". However, he also acknowledges the resounding display of talent that was his Dutch teammate's victory at the historic track. "Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins the Monaco Grand Prix with an impressive race". The popular Mexican TV and news outlet highlights the driver's struggles and the increased points gap in the championship in favour of Verstappen. "Mexico's Checo Perez went through hell at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, finishing 16th after a series of problems that prevented him from reaching the points, a race that was won by teammate Max Verstappen to pull away in the championship," the media outlet concluded.