Sergio Perez navigated the Austrian Grand Prix weekend while fighting fever-like symptoms, and his health remains a concern heading into this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver fell ill on Wednesday night in Austria and skipped his media duties on Thursday, but was on track when action began on Friday.
It continued to be a difficult week as his symptoms persisted and Perez qualified 15th for the grand prix on Friday afternoon. On Saturday he qualified second behind team mate Max Verstappen for the sprint race, but finished 21 seconds behind him in the 24-lap event.
On Sunday Perez made his way up from 15th to third, and in the post-race press conference detailed the impact of his illness and why he fears it could continue to affect him as he heads into the second part of back-to-back race weekends.
Perez said he was feeling “definitely not great” after completing Sunday’s 71-lap race at the Red Bull Ring.
“I haven’t had a good rest. Every night I’ve had a fever and I think when that happens and then you are on medications, automatically you are not 100% at all.”
He is concerned his illness will continue to affect him at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, as the high-speed Silverstone circuit places severe demands on drivers’ fitness.
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“It’s a very demanding sport, in the car and out of the car,” said Perez. “I’ve just been really sick, so I really hope that I can recover in a few days, because Silverstone is another very hard race, very demanding.
“I really need time. I’m really far from 100% at the moment.”
Perez was “really happy” to rise from 15th on the grid to claim his fifth podium of the year despite feeling ill.
“It’s been a very difficult weekend for me personally, physically. I have been really, really weak. I was sick on Thursday. So it hasn’t been an easy weekend.” Perez said his fever meant he got “no sleep during the weekend,” though he was considered fit enough to race.
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2023 Austrian Grand Prix
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