He collided with Leclerc, and his home race was over after just one lap. Until he turned his Red Bull into Leclerc’s Ferrari at Turn One, Perez’s home race had been going well. Hamilton said as Perez turned in, with Leclerc and Verstappen packed tight on his inside. That is a reference to Ricciardo’s previous time at Red Bull, and obliquely to Perez as well. If Ricciardo could prove he had got his mojo back, then he would be an obvious option for Red Bull if Perez could not step it up. I just said: ‘Look, next race next week (in Brazil). Perez, too, insists he will get his year back on track. “He has three races now to convert that second place,” Horner said.

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