Sergio Perez says a communication misunderstanding was behind the confusion over the fastest lap battle at Formula 1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen pocketed the extra point after setting the fastest lap on the final lap of the race en route to finishing second, behind Perez.
Perez suggested in the aftermath of the race that he received different information to Verstappen and was informed not to continue chasing the fastest lap.
Boss Christian Horner affirmed that both drivers were free to push during the closing stages.
Speaking on Thursday Perez agreed that he interpreted a radio message informing him that he had the fastest lap as an instruction that he was not to chase it.
“Yeah, I think it was a bit of a miscommunication between my engineer and myself,” Perez said. “I don’t think there was anything more to it – I think the team did a good job to let us race, and I think that was good.
“I spoke with my engineers. It was all clear. I had a word with Christian after the race, and it was all clear. It’s nothing big. Obviously you guys like to create some stories when we’re not racing! But it’s all good in the team.”
On whether new lines of communication would be in place for the future Perez said: “Well, I think it’s something that if we are in that position like where we were in Bahrain, like we were in Jeddah where it was very clear who was going to win the race, no matter how hard we pushed…I think if that’s not the case, then we can find ourselves in a different race situation, and that can be a bit different.”
