Perez slates FIA track limits system after qualifying debacle

Ewan Gale
Saturday 30 July 2022 22:00 - Updated: 11:43

Sergio Perez believes the current system used by the FIA to monitor track limits is 'not up to it' following the debacle that hit his Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

The Red Bull driver was eliminated in Q2 at the Hungaroring after initially having his first lap time of the session taken away for exceeding track limits at turn five.

But the FIA stewards reinstated the lap after reviewing footage that showed the Mexican had straddled the white track boundary line, lifting Perez back up to ninth.

On a set of used tyres, Perez was unable to push for a place in Q3 as the track ramped up, blaming Haas driver Kevin Magnussen for impeding him.

Referring to the track-limits issue, Perez said: "I just don't think the system is really up to it. We have to review it and see how we can move forwards to have some more consistency.

"It is messy but then I got Kevin going into turn two.

"I missed Q3 by a couple of hundredths but I lost a few tenths with Kevin going into turn two so an unfortunate qualifying for me."

Red Bull "not working" for Perez

Perez had started the season in fine form and matched team-mate Max Verstappen throughout most of the opening stanza.

But recent upgrades have seen a gap begin to grow between the two drivers and Perez conceded: "It hasn't been working for me this weekend.

"So I have to analyse together with my engineers and try to pull it off tomorrow.

"We still have a long season ahead so I will do my best."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes