close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
Sergio Perez in his Red Bull.

TORRENTIAL rain causes late red flag as Perez gifted FIA lifeline

Sergio Perez in his Red Bull. — Photo: © LAT Images

TORRENTIAL rain causes late red flag as Perez gifted FIA lifeline

The Mexican had just lost second due to a mistake but pitted when the red flag was waved

Torrential rain with less than 10 laps to go of the Dutch GP saw the race red-flagged and Sergio Perez lose a podium place.

The Mexican, who had just been overtaken by Fernando Alonso following a mistake at turn one, pitted under a virtual safety car due to Zhou Guanyu's crash at the same corner.

His pitstop saw him drop to sixth as the red flag was waved as he came into the pits, seeing Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton gain places.

Perez was given a lifeline for the restart, though, as he was promoted back up to third following the FIA procedure for re-ordering the field.

READ MORE: Why Adrian Newey is the BEST and WORST thing to happen to F1

Very lucky

Sergio Perez's car required repairs after he hit both the turn one wall and the pit lane barrier within a lap
Sergio Perez's car required repairs after he hit both the turn one wall and the pit lane barrier within a lap

Had the race not been red-flagged, the switch to full-wet tyres was a smart one given the volume of rain falling, particularly on the pit straight.

Max Verstappen had already been in and out for wet tyres while Fernando Alonso stayed out on intermediates.

With the television images clearly showing waves of water on the track and Zhou in the barriers, the red flag was the only logical outcome.

Red Bull and Perez got away with a mistake thanks to the re-ordering but there will be questions over why the team came to that decision.

READ MORE: Christian Horner: The Red Bull giant and ‘Drive to Survive’ star

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Does F1 have a backup plan? FIA confirm review of controversial energy rules after Chinese GP

Does F1 have a backup plan? FIA confirm review of controversial energy rules after Chinese GP

  • 9 minutes ago
'It's a joke': Max Verstappen at his limit after Chinese Grand Prix DNF

'It's a joke': Max Verstappen at his limit after Chinese Grand Prix DNF

  • 54 minutes ago
F1 Oscars: Lewis Hamilton doesn't have one but Michael Schumacher does

F1 Oscars: Lewis Hamilton doesn't have one but Michael Schumacher does

  • 1 hour ago
Lewis Hamilton senses first Ferrari F1 win after breakthrough Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton senses first Ferrari F1 win after breakthrough Chinese Grand Prix

  • 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton stars at Chinese Grand Prix, F1 winner left in tears

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton stars at Chinese Grand Prix, F1 winner left in tears

  • 3 hours ago
F1 blunder as Kimi Antonelli called the WRONG name on Chinese Grand Prix podium

F1 blunder as Kimi Antonelli called the WRONG name on Chinese Grand Prix podium

  • 3 hours ago

Just in

19:27
Does F1 have a backup plan? FIA confirm review of controversial energy rules after Chinese GP
18:42
'It's a joke': Max Verstappen at his limit after Chinese Grand Prix DNF
17:46
F1 Oscars: Lewis Hamilton doesn't have one but Michael Schumacher does
16:56
Lewis Hamilton senses first Ferrari F1 win after breakthrough Chinese Grand Prix
16:26
F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton stars at Chinese Grand Prix, F1 winner left in tears
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

F1 Oscars: Lewis Hamilton doesn't have one but Michael Schumacher does F1 Oscars

F1 Oscars: Lewis Hamilton doesn't have one but Michael Schumacher does

1 hour ago
Lewis Hamilton senses first Ferrari F1 win after breakthrough Chinese Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton senses first Ferrari F1 win after breakthrough Chinese Grand Prix

2 hours ago
F1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 results: Final classification with penalties applied Chinese Grand Prix

F1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 results: Final classification with penalties applied

Today 14:28
'Band back together': Hamilton and Bono celebrate on Chinese GP podium after historic race victory Chinese Grand Prix

'Band back together': Hamilton and Bono celebrate on Chinese GP podium after historic race victory

Today 12:57
Ontdek het op Google Play
x