Tear-off compromised Sergio Perez in Australian Grand Prix

Sergio Perez’s performance at the Australian Grand Prix was hindered by a tear-off from a visor, which disrupted the aerodynamic efficiency of his Red Bull RB20.

Starting the Melbourne race in sixth position after incurring a three-place penalty for impeding, Perez faced further setbacks as he lost a position to George Russell at the start. Despite this setback, he managed to recover and secure a fifth-place finish.

Perez expressed concerns about the balance of his car during the race, prompting the team to investigate further after the checkered flag. It was discovered that a tear-off had become lodged in the floor of the car, affecting its performance.

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Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, explained, “We noticed that Sergio’s pace, particularly when he was making his way through the field on the hard tire and closing in on Fernando, was strong and comparable to that of the leaders. However, upon passing Fernando, a tear-off became lodged underneath the car’s floor, resulting in significant loss of load.”

Horner elaborated on the impact of this issue on downforce, stating, “The loss exceeded 20 points, which is quite substantial. It underscores the sensitivity of these components and their critical role in car performance.”