Racing Point: pain, gain… and pain
Ultimately, the Portuguese GP was a missed opportunity for Racing Point. Sergio Perez again made it seem laughable that the team that will soon be Aston Martin is rejecting him, with a strong start from fifth on the grid to challenge Max Verstappen for third. He was unlucky to be tagged into a spin by the Dutchman, who correctly escaped a penalty for what was an unfortunate racing incident. Perez then put in a terrific charge from the back to return to fifth behind Charles Leclerc, who was once again excellent for Ferrari.
Perez versus the long-running Esteban Ocon was one of the highlights of a race not short of close action, the pair running side by side for pretty much half a lap before the Renault was forced to cede. But late in the race, on the soft tyre that never really worked on this circuit, Perez found himself a sitting duck as the accomplished Pierre Gasly loomed in his AlphaTauri. Perez was aggressive in his defence – too much so, receiving a reprimand that leaves him just one more away from a race ban – but was powerless to stop the Frenchman a lap later. Then as they started the last lap, Sainz swept past too with an easy DRS move. So seventh place for the Mexican. Having started fifth, he couldn’t be happy with that.
But he sure had a far better race than team-mate Lance Stroll. The Canadian only started 12th, rose up the order and then challenged Lando Norris with a slightly out-of-control move at Turn 1 that resulted in contact that damaged both cars. Norris was forced to pit and finished a frustrated 13th, while Stroll was handed not one, but two five-second penalties – the first for causing this collision, then second for exceeding track limits. Racing Point then pulled him in to retire. In all, less than impressive from the boss’s son.