Belgian GP points a just reward for Saturday risk takers - Sergio Perez

Perez crasht op Spa. — Photo: © LAT Images

Belgian Grand Prix

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Belgian GP points a just reward for Saturday risk takers - Perez

Perez crashed on his way to the grid but was able to take the pit lane start

Sam Hall

Tuesday 31 August 2021 11:40

Sergio Perez believes F1 was right to complete two safety car laps to register a race classification at the Belgian Grand Prix to reward those "risking everything" in qualifying.

Sunday's race at Spa Francorchamps will go down in the history books as one of the most bizarre, with no green-flag running and officially lasting just three minutes and 27 seconds.

After the havoc wreaked by the weather, opinion has since been divided between the drivers as to whether F1 and the FIA made the right call to complete the safety car running that allowed a result to be declared almost four hours after the originally planned start time and half points to be awarded.

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“I think you have to reward the people that did the job on Saturday," Perez told Sky Sports F1. "They were risking everything.

“You saw with people like Lando [Norris] for example, it was so easy to make a mistake and we were risking so much that somehow it is good to reward the people that did the job then.”

Perez praises Red Bull "spirit"

After crashing on the way to the grid, Perez was then unable to complete the two formation laps initially conducted before the event was suspended.

Red Bull initially informed FIA race director Michael Masi the team was retiring the car, but the delays allowed time for repairs to be made.

Following a period of confusion as to whether or not Perez could be re-entered for the restart, the Mexican was eventually allowed to restart from the pit lane, following the field on the two 'racing' laps.

“It is very frustrating but the fans were amazing, standing in the rain for hours just trying to get us racing," added Perez. "I think as a sport we tried everything as well to go there.

“My mistake was very costly so in the end, we lost a couple of points with my crash but I have to say [it was] an amazing job from my boys.

“They managed to turn the car around in a couple of hours and I was very impressed. It just shows the spirit that Red Bull Racing has and that is very nice to see.”