Podium a ‘great boost’ says Pérez

Sergio Pérez said his third place finish in the Canadian Grand Prix is a “great boost’ for Sauber team, as the team has suffered a streak of bad luck since the Mexican’s maiden podium in Malaysia in March.

Pérez endured a tough time in qualifying yesterday, complaining of poor brake balance, and could only manage 15th on the grid. But in the race he maximised a one-stop strategy to vault to fourth in the closing laps.

And when second-placed Fernando Alonso, who was trying to cling to a fast-degrading set of soft compound tyres, began to slow dramatically, Perez was on hand to follow Lotus’ Romain Grosjean past the Ferrari driver and claim third place.

Afterwards, the Sauber driver said he had not believed a podium was possible until he was actually past Alonso.

“Starting 15th, the last thing you would think about is ending up on the podium,” he said. “We went quite aggressive and the first stint was quite good. Then the stop was very good. The second stint was really, really good. I managed to overtake some cars in difficult manouevres. I saw that degradation was not so high for me. I could manage my pace well. Then I managed to get some other drivers.

“It’s a great result for the team after such a bad day we had yesterday,” he added. “We had a lot of trouble with the brakes. Today, it’s just great to finish here on the podium. It’s a great boost for the team. After Malaysia it’s our second time to get in the [major] points and the second podium, so hopefully we can keep this way.

“Obviously, we have been very unlucky. [Look at] what happened in Monaco for example. We were very quick there and in Barcelona as well. It’s great to come back and do a podium for the whole team and with this here being so close to home with a lot of Mexicans around, it’s great.”

The Mexican racer went on to say that the race had given him another chance to show his potential.

“In the position that I am with my team, we are still fighting to get to the top, to be a top driver one day,” he said. “It’s great, every opportunity I have to show my potential, because you don’t know how many opportunities you will have. I have been very unlucky in the last races so I think it feels great but I think the first podium feels a bit better.”