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mexican press on sergio perez United States Grand Prix

Relief in Mexico (for now): 'Perez can breathe again'

23 October 2023 at 11:30
Last update 23 October 2023 at 13:10
4
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

For a few hours, Lewis Hamilton seemed to have gained on Sergio Perez, in their joint battle for second place in the championship. However, second-placed Hamilton was removed from the results, allowing the Mexican to actually increase the margin. Journalists at ESTO - the country's leading sports news outlet - were therefore mostly filled with relief.

"How does Checo Perez benefit from Hamilton's disqualification? The Mexican can breathe again," the Mexican site headlines. For there, too, it has not escaped the notice that Perez's problems could have just been a good deal bigger had Hamilton not been penalised. "The points lost by Lewis Hamilton are decisive for Perez to keep his distance in the championship."

Perez has been warned about Hamilton

Esto continued, "Sergio Perez's poor performance in the second half of the Formula 1 season has reached an all-time low, as the Guadalajara-based driver saw Lewis Hamilton approach in the battle for second place among drivers. The British driver was even in a position to take second place away from the Mexican this coming Sunday at the Mexico GP, in his Perez's home country. But the Briton's disqualification will prevent that for now."

Instead of 19 points, Perez's lead at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix is 39 points. But the danger is not over yet, Esto was well aware. "Thanks to Hamilton's offence, Checo can breathe easy for at least one more race, but it will be very important for him to finish ahead of Mercedes at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. If he fails to do so, the seven-time world champion still has the Grands Prix of Brazil, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi to take away second place. Just like Charles Leclerc did in 2022."

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