Sergio Pérez slams Pastor Maldonado after collision at Silverstone
Sauber driver fumes following race ending crash
Published by Mr. C
In an interview with the BBC following his early exit from the British Grand Prix, Sergio Pérez openly criticised rival Pastor Maldonado's driving abilities, suggesting other F1 drivers have also voiced concerns about his approach to racing.
Pérez put blame for a 12th lap incident squarely at the Venezuelan driver's door. The collision saw him retire from the race and dropped Maldonado down the order.
"Pastor is a driver that doesn't respect other drivers. As a matter of fact, I was already in front, and if not, he should have given me enough space not to crash. He tried to push me all the way to the outside.
"I really don't understand the way he's driving the last three or four races, he's done something to someone. He did the same thing to me in Valencia, and they just gave him a drive through. It's not enough, and he will never learn."
A clearly angry Pérez then called on race stewards to take measures against Maldonado, although he stopped short of suggesting what.
Everybody has concerns about him. He's a driver that doesn't respect, doesn't know that we are risking our lives. No respect at all, and the way he's driving, I think the stewards really have to do something by now.
He does affect many other drivers, I'm not the only one.
- Sergio Pérez
Pastor Maldonado went on to finish the race in 16th; afterwards he defended his actions and blamed the contact on cold tyres, claiming the position was his.
"It was a very disappointing moment because the race was going good for us. I was coming out of the pit with cold tyres, was on the inside of the corner, so the corner was mine.
"I tried to defend, on the entry, I just lost the rear of the car, I think with cold tyres. I'm disappointed because I compromised both races."
When asked specifically about Pérez's comments, Pastor did not appear to take the criticisms to heart.
He can say whatever he wants. We are racing, we were trying to do our best on track. I was trying to defend the position, he was trying to gain the position, this is racing, you know.
If I see him, yes [I'll speak to him], why not.
- Pastor Maldonado
For their part, race stewards said they would look into the incident after the conclusion of the race. They reprimanded Maldonado and fined him €10,000 EUR for causing a collision with Pérez.
Its all still racing. If you watch the video, it looks like he lost his back end probably trying to dive fast and late to defend but it was for position. Perez was aggressive and that stuff happens when you try to pass on the out side. Pastor even won a race....
yup. on it's own you can argue that it was a racing incident.
but looking back on this season and last, you'd have to say perez has a point - maldonado crashes into other people quite frequently.
I'd go further back. Hitting a marshall at Monaco under yellow flag conditions speaks for itself. And this 'small' error under a red flag: www.youtube.com/w…tch?v=kt5nt7IdyPs
Maldonado was actually banned from racing in Monaco, but the rumours are that someone made a financial donation to the ACM to remove the ban, either a family member or someone within the Venezuelan government.
As proven in the Spanish GP, he actually does have the talent to win, but statistically, he now has 5 accidents out of 9 races this year.
Forgot to add...Perez actually called Maldonado a 'stupid driver' when interviewed during the race on Sky.
Whilst I've calmed down from yesterday (I'm sure Maldonado noticed my evil stare every time he went past), I've come to accept it was a racing incident, to which Maldonado was mainly at fault for.
But frankly a driver who has twice deliberately drove into someone, been involved in a heck of a lot of crashes, this may not be the most serious incident, but by God someone should look at him because he is one massive risk. I do wonder if he hadn't won in Spain, if they FIA would be taking a more serious look at him.
not sure what they can do though? they can take his superlicence away, but that seems excessive. there is the three strikes rule, but so far he's only been given two reprimand's:
http://www.vivaf1.com/penalties.php
didn't know that.
Maldonado has a tendency to be brutal with his opponents, or brutal to himself. I personal feel that he lacks restraint to race at the Formula 1 level. Attacking someone on cold tires right out of the pit seems foolish, when you know that you're going to have better rubber than them in a few laps time.
I do think that the only serious thing that bother me about Maldonado isn't his driving, but how the FIA seems to slap him on the wrist for serious incidents, compared to other competitors. (At least, I feel that's the case. I'm sure that if I saw a list of all of the incidents/repremands throughout the season, I might find myself in the wrong)
However, you know how Formula 1 works. The last thing I see, is the greatest thing we remember. ;)
I read today that he said the problem was Perez braked late. Maybe that was because he was planning on going round the outside rather than braking for the apex. His comment suggests he knew Perez was there so he knew he had to be slower at the apex as his normal exit line would not be available.
I don't think he deliberately hit Perez but he lost the car because he was utterly unrealistic about what his car was capable of. Like Lewis with Alonso the smart thing to do was give up the place and concentrate on drivers he could beat.
You have to wonder why he gets such light penalties. By now he should have had a one race ban but instead he gets a fine. What is the point in a small fine when he is sponsored by the richest man in the world?
The conspiracy theorist in me believes he gets off lightly because he is bringing so much money into the sport and that money goes to Williams who back up Bernie every time.
He's a pay driver who was in the right place at the right time to fluke a win in Barcelona. I really do think it could have almost been any driver who could have won in that car on that day - which makes Senna's position in the team rather shaky...
The stewards have been far too weak on him and the worst part is, he always thinks he is the victim. He is heading towards a rather large accident and I fear very much that someone will get hurt because of this.
He's dangerous and he's only tolerated because of all the ill-gotten millions he brings to Williams. I for one will be glad to see the back of him. What Chavez thinks he's getting out of paying for his drive I don't know, because I know loads of Venezuelans who (a) couldn't care less about F1 or (b) like F1 but don't feel the need to support him because of his 'sponsorship' (one diehard fan who wears Ferrari branded spectacles and did very well for himself in Formula Student has stopped watching the sport entirely because of it). On a side note, I worry very much that Williams relies so much on those Bolivars, because there is a feeling that Chavez may not be in power for too much longer and if/when he gets deposed, that money will disappear faster than you can say "Pastor can make a clean overtake"...
On a side note, I call out drivers a lot when they do stupid things, but Pastor Maldonado is the only driver whose fans decide to verbally abuse you on twitter if you dare criticise him.
So yeah, in my book, not much going for him. Sorry for the rant, but I'm just sick of all of his antics and nothing is seemingly done about them. I will concede that this latest incident with Perez was a 'racing incident' (although many others made moves on that turn without contact), but having said that, Perez scores loads of points in my book for having the guts to stick his neck out and say something about it.
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