Sergio Perez came from behind then bolted to an emotional finish as he bagged his first-ever Formula One Win in the Sakhir Grand Prix at Bahrain.
Perez, from Racing Point F1 Team, took 190 races before savoring the slippery win in front of Mercedes protege George Russell. Russel came out swirling on the path after careening, then losing the lead in exchange for a pit stop after his tires got punctured.
The British driver piloted the Mercedes a week after Lewis Hamilton contracted the coronavirus. The 22-year-old contender could not afford to suffer a crashing fiasco as he passed Valtteri Bottas, who was his teammate in the first cycle.
Russel could have grabbed the F1 crown if the error had not happened. The flawed tire replacement was the culprit, as moments later, the tires deflated, leaving him spinning back to the underserving spot. He finished the race in a heartbreaking 9th place on a day of pure disappointment and misfortunes.
Perez took his time to speed-boost, gaining the upper hand ahead of Russel. The Mexican said that he has other plans to arrange, as he will be absent in 2021.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will take over Perez's spot. The Racing Point will be releasing Perez at the season-ender as the team will be relaunching a new brand under Aston Martin.
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It does not mean that Perez will shove his career to dust. It only means that another opportunity has opened for him. The Red Bull might vacate the spot for Perez, with Alexander Albon and Max Verstappen on the edge of being benched.
Renault's Esteban ended in the second spot while Perez's teammate Lance Stroll had a scintillating conclusion at third place. This was the first double-header podium finish for the Racing Point team.
"I hope I'm not dreaming... Ten years it has taken me and I don't know what to say. After that first lap, the race was gone... but I did not give up. In the end, my pace was enough to hold off George", Perez spoke tearfully after an action-packed race. "I am speechless."
Carlos Sainz of McLaren finished fourth in his Ferrari, with Daniel Ricciardo at fifth. Abon came in sixth, Daniil Kvyat notched seventh place, and Bottas placed eight.
Lando Norris was the 10th racer in the Grand Prix, a rank way better than Charles Leclerc's, who finished at the last spot after crashing on the first lap. The terrible slam dented his chance at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a three-place grid penalty.
Leclerc bumped in the opening of Turn 4, with Perez involved in the collision. The Monégasque racer was on the drift to eclipse Verstappen as the latter exited to the race, placing just one spot above Leclerc.
Mexico's 50-year drought in F1 had finally ended since 1970 when Pedro Rodriguez won the 1967 South African Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean, who crashed from his recent race, will head to Switzerland to resume his medication. He will miss the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 13.
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