Pérez blames Maldonado for ruined weekend
It was a tough weekend at the British Grand Prix for the Sauber F1 Team as it leaves Silverstone with no points. Kamui Kobayashi finished 11th from 17th on the grid in his Sauber C31 Ferrari, while Sergio Pérez, who started 15th, collided with Pastor Maldonado on lap 12 and retired while driving in a promising position.
During Kamui’s second pit stop three mechanics suffered minor injuries. Two were taken to the circuit’s medical centre for treatment, one for an injured thumb and the other for cuts and bruises, and are now back with the team. The third suffered a bruised foot and was treated in the team’s garage.
Kamui Kobayashi, 11th, Sauber C31-Ferrari (Chassis 01/Ferrari 056):
Start on hard tyres, after 16 laps change to hard tyres, after 37 laps change to soft tyres.
“First of all the accident at the pit stop was my fault and I want to apologise to the team. Of course I had to push hard for points, but without doubt I braked too late in the pit lane. The front wheels locked, I couldn’t control the car, and this is how I overshot the pit box. I am terribly sorry this happened, and I hope the three mechanics I hit get well soon. Up to this happening my race was good. I had improved from 17th on the grid to a top ten position, and was hoping for points.”
Sergio Pérez, DNF, Sauber C31-Ferrari (Chassis 02/Ferrari 056): Start on soft tyres, after 11 laps change to hard tyres. “I am very upset as my weekend has been ruined. I braked later than Pastor Maldonado, he didn’t give me any room at all and just came into me. In my view it was not a racing incident. We all fight very hard, but give each other room. It is a shame because my car was really going very well. I had moved up from 15th to seventh before my pit stop and so was confident of scoring points.”
Peter Sauber, Team Principal:
“I am obviously hoping our three mechanics make a speedy recovery from their injuries and are fully fit again very soon. Up until Kamui’s second pit stop, during which he lost 15 seconds, he had a very good chance of scoring points. Sergio had improved from 15th on the grid to make it into the points, and it is not for the first time we have seen him do this. We were looking forward to an exciting race, with good results possible for us. The accident between Sergio and Pastor Maldonado will be investigated by the FIA, but whatever happens it was the end of Sergio’s race.”
Giampaolo Dall’Ara, Head of Track Engineering:
“Our race pace was good, our strategy was going quite well and both drivers recovered some positions at the beginning. Sergio was planning on a shorter stint on the soft tyres and longer stints on the hard. We timed the pit stop quite nicely and were able to get up to Maldonado, who was running in front of us, but then there was an accident. For Kamui we were actually targeting a longer run on the hard tyres and were being quite patient in the beginning, but then with a stronger pace by the end on the soft. All in all it was working, but the incident during the pit stop cost us too much time. Part of the race was definitely lost yesterday and the two incidents today completed a bad weekend.”
