Sergio Perez said his first corner crash turned his home Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday into the saddest experience of his career.
The Red Bull driver, who enjoyed passionate home support, collided with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari as he challenged for the lead by drawing alongside him and his Red Bull team-mate world champion Max Verstappen.
But three into two would not go, he said, after bouncing off into a run-off area from which he recovered, limped to the pits and retired. "I've had some really sad moments in my career," he said. "And certainly this is the saddest one because of the end result, but at the end of the day it's just racing." The incident not only ended Perez's race, after he made a good start from fifth on the grid, but also damaged Leclerc's Ferrari, leaving him with a damaged front wing.
He continued, but he was unable to resist seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes and finished third behind him as Verstappen sped to a record 16th win of the season and 51st of his career.