Sergio Perez has taken full responsibility for the collision between the Cadillac cars at the beginning of the Chinese Grand Prix in Formula 1. The incident occurred when Perez and Valtteri Bottas were vying for 14th place during the race. Perez, while staying on the inside of Bottas’ car, found himself on the kerb and ended up hitting the Finn’s sidepod with his front-right wheel, resulting in a spin that damaged his teammate’s car. Despite losing a few seconds, Perez was able to catch up due to an early safety car. Bottas eventually overtook Alonso, and Perez followed suit, leading the race until Alonso retired due to severe vibrations affecting his performance.
In reflecting on the incident, Perez admitted to a “misjudgement” on his part, acknowledging that he had cost himself the race. He also highlighted the challenges he faced during the race, including losing engine power and valuable time due to technical issues. Despite the setbacks, both Cadillac cars managed to finish the race, although there is room for improvement.
Valtteri Bottas shared his perspective on the race, noting the challenges he faced with a damaged floor but expressing satisfaction with finishing in 13th place. He acknowledged the team’s progress and reliability, considering the positive outcome despite the lack of pace compared to other teams. Bottas emphasized the need for improved performance to compete effectively in future races.
Overall, while the clash between the Cadillac drivers posed challenges, both Perez and Bottas remained focused on the positives of finishing the race and gaining valuable experience. The team has shown progress and determination, aiming to build on their performance in upcoming races to achieve better results.
