Pérez: It’s not just about tyres

Sergio Pérez has insisted that while he will continue to exploit his ability to manage tyres during races, he is capable of racing well in all driving conditions.

After maximising a one-stop strategy in the Australian Grand Prix to climb from 22nd on the grid to eighth place at the chequered flag and a week later finishing second in Malaysia after a superb drive on Pirelli’s intermediate and hard tyres, Pérez confirmed his status as a tyre management specialist. However, ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix the Mexican racer said that a Formula One driver needs more than just tyre management to be competitive.

“I can play the tyres, but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t work,” he said when asked in the official FIA press conference whether an understanding of this year’s Pirelli tyres helps him in races. “I always try to adapt myself to the different conditions you have in Formula One most of the time. [It is] very difficult to adapt to every single condition. You have different conditions in free practice than in qualifying and it’s very important to be able to adapt yourself to any condition.

“Of course, there is a big potential there [with the tyres] and with experience it will get better because when I came to Formula One it was difficult to keep changing your style. People always ask me ‘what’s your style?’ but I think in Formula One you don’t have one – you are always changing your style and trying to adapt yourself to any condition.”

After his exploits in Malaysia, where he became the first Mexican in more than 40 years to score a podium finish, Pérez returned to his home city of Guadalajara, where he greeted to a hero’s welcome. “It’s been really great,” he said. “The people [in Mexico] were going crazy. It was a great result for my country. It was 40 years since the last podium we had in Formula One, so it was really nice to feel all the support I’m getting from the fans, from the country.”

However, despite the good result, Pérez said he feels under no pressure to immediately repeat the performance. “I think the pressure remains the same, giving my 100 per cent every race weekend, trying to have success, and just trying to do my best, that will be the target for the next 18 races.”