Sergio Perez claimed his first-ever win for Racing Point in Formula 1 after pouncing upon a Mercedes tyre mix-up to win the Sakhir Grand Prix.
Mercedes had a commanding lead over the rest of the pack as George Russell headed the field from team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who had started on pole, after pulling clear of the Finn after their first stint.
A late safety car turned the race on its head, as Jack Aitken found himself spinning in the final corner after he lost his front wing making minimal contact with the barrier.
Mercedes chose to double-stack their drivers in an attempt to be able to cover off any threat from behind but a mix up within the pit-lane caused, by a technical fault, ruined both their drivers’ afternoons.
Russell looked unfazed as he dominated the majority of the race after standing in for Lewis Hamilton – who tested positive for Covid-19 in the week of the race. Russell’s day went from bad to worse when he was forced to pit for a third time when his crew fitted Bottas’ tyres to his car.
This dropped the young Brit down to fifth behind his Mercedes team-mate. Russell, on his new medium compound tyres, was able to quickly charge back through the field before he was forced to pit for a fourth time after suffering a slow puncture while trying to hunt down Perez for his first-ever win.
As the race came to a close, Perez found himself out front with a commanding lead to seal a first career win, having pounced upon a number of mistakes made by Mercedes to win on his 190th Grand Prix start.
Perez, who is still without a drive for 2021, found himself in last position after lap one having made contact with the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc at turn four, but was remarkably able to storm through the field to take what looked like an unlikely victory.
‘I am a little bit speechless,’ said a jubilant Perez post-race. ‘I hope I am not dreaming because I dream so many years being in this moment – 10 years it took me, I don’t know what to say. Incredible; after the start I thought the race was again gone but it was all about not giving up and recovering.
‘The luck has not been with us this year but we won the race on merit. Yes, the Mercedes had some issues but we had the pace to hold George.’
Esteban Ocon scored his first podium of F1 with a stunning second place for Renault, his previous best finish being fifth.
Lance Stroll completed what was a double podium finish for Racing Point. This gives the British team a huge boost in their bid to secure third in the Constructor’s Championship with one round to go.
Carlos Sainz finished fourth for McLaren ahead of the second Renault of Daniel Ricciardo, while Alexander Albon finished sixth for Red Bull after capitalising on the late safety car.
Daniil Kvyat impressed to finish seventh after a good qualifying session on Saturday, while Bottas dropped down to eighth due to a lack of pace having fitted the same compound of tyre after a Mercedes’ mix-up on his third and final stop.
Russell secured his first points finish of his F1 career after a late charge to ninth having pitted just a number of laps before the end of the race after picking up a slow puncture from second.
Lando Norris took the final points-paying position in 10th as he fought back from the back of the grid having taken an engine penalty after Saturday’s poor qualifying session.
By Cameron Anderson-Jones
