Sergio Perez says he is fit for Valencia but shows concerns over Pirelli rubber – Formula 1 news
Sauber’s Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez has stated that he is totally fit for the upcoming Valencia Grand Prix of the 2011 Formula 1 season.
Perez, who missed out in Monaco and Montreal, participated in the first two practice sessions of the Valencia race and was feeling fine in the car.
However, the Mexican stated that the car is lacking pace and the Pirelli rubber is giving problems to get to the required temperature.
Initially it was decided that the Mexican will drive in the first practice session and afterwards the team will decide about his future in Valencia. However, after a rest of almost one month, Perez was back in the C30 and felt perfectly fine.
He said, “More than anything I'm happy to be back in the car. Everything went okay, I feel well and I have done a lot of work over the last weeks to get there. I picked up speed quite quickly and this is good.”
The Mexican crashed in the Monaco qualifiers when his C30 hit the barriers. Perez was immediately taken out of the Monaco Grand Prix and was admitted to the nearest medical facility.
In the Montreal GP, Perez tried out in the practice session but the team decided not to let him race after he complained of concussion.
Perez drove in the first session and finished 14th on the table of the Valencia GP whereas in the second session, he was down in 16th place.
Talking about his outing in the C30 car and Pirelli tyres, the Mexican stated, “Overall it looks as if we are a bit off the pace here. With regards to the tyres, I find it difficult to get the medium compound up to temperature. Here low grip is a general
problem of the circuit. It is pretty dusty and, even with the soft tyres; it is difficult to find a proper grip level.”
The final practice session and the qualifiers will be contested on Saturday before the race is contested on Sunday, June 26, 2011.
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