F1: Surprise Moments From 2018

#3 Sergio Perez on the podium in Azerbaijan

Sergio Perez at the podium during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been proving an extremely thrilling affair for the previous two years. Sergio Perez lined up eight on the grid and once the lights went out, mayhem followed. Esteban Ocon ran into the side of Kimi Räikkönen’s car and that crash spelled retirement for the Frenchman.

Multiple tyre punctures and front wing damages ailed many of the drivers. Once a safety car was deployed to remove Ocon’s Force India and Sergey Sirotkin’s punctured Williams, almost everyone dashed into the pits for damage control. Sergio was one of them, getting his front wing changed and was also handed a five-second penalty for causing a collision with Kimi.

Once the two Red Bull drivers came together on lap 40, another safety car period bunched up the field. By now, Perez was running fifth after making up more than ten places. Valtteri Bottas, who was leading the race, suffered a puncture, pushing Perez up to fourth. The Mexican then seized the moment to pass by Sebastian Vettel, who had flat-spotted his tyres, to end up on the podium.