Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has revealed that Sergio Perez encountered a major setback during the Australian Grand Prix. A tear-off, a protective film on the visor, became lodged under Perez’s car, resulting in a significant loss of performance. Despite this setback, Perez managed to finish fifth in the race after his teammate Max Verstappen retired early on due to a brake fire. Perez’s race was going well until the tear-off became stuck, causing a decrease in pace and tire degradation. Horner expressed frustration but also acknowledged the team’s impressive achievements thus far.
In response to the question about the value of the load loss that affected Perez’s competitiveness, Horner stated that it exceeded 20 points, indicating its significance. Perez had previously denied that Verstappen’s participation in the race would have prevented Ferrari from winning with Carlos Sainz leading the way. When asked if the outcome of the race would have been different without Perez’s grid penalty for obstructing Hulkenberg’s Haas car, Horner admitted that it was difficult to determine. He acknowledged that Perez’s performance was compromised due to the issue with the floor, but also acknowledged that Ferrari may have simply been faster on that day. Verstappen revealed that his brake was stuck from the beginning of the race, with Horner comparing it to driving with the handbrake on. He explained that the caliper issue caused the brake to bind, resulting in heat buildup and ultimately leading to smoke and fire. Horner expressed his frustration with the mechanical failure, noting that it was their first DNF of this kind in two years, which speaks to the strength and design of the car. However, it was still disappointing to score zero points when they were competing at the front of the field.