Williams team principal James Vowles has admitted that Sergio Perez’s reckless move on Alex Albon in the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend could impact where the Grove-based team finish in the championship, with Haas having gotten closer as a result.
Albon was having yet another brilliant race in Singapore on Sunday, where he was defending like a lion against Sergio Perez.
The duo were fighting for eighth, a position which would’ve claimed Williams four important points had Albon ended the race there.
Instead, Albon ended the race outside of the points, after a late move by Perez resulted in contact.
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After the Thai driver had started to turn into the extremely tight Turn 13, when Perez suddenly decided to send his RB19 up the inside of Albon.
There was absolutely no room for the overtake, with Perez having instead collided into the side of Albon, who was almost forced into the barrier as a result.
The Williams driver had to slam on the brakes and reverse, costing him several places.
He was livid with the driver who replaced him at Red Bull and labelled him as “f****** dirty” over the team radio.
Albon went onto tell the team that he had to “stop him from hitting me” on countless occasions, with Perez’s driving having infuriated the 27-year-old.
Albon added over the radio: “Sorry, but I can’t do that every single time he tries to take a lunge and take avoiding action. I thought he would have this one under control but he didn’t.”
Perez was slapped with a five-second time penalty for causing a collision; however, he still claimed P8 as he was far enough ahead of Liam Lawson in ninth.
Williams were the biggest losers from the collision, as Haas gained a point on them whilst AlphaTauri gained two.
Had it not been for Perez’s late move, Williams would’ve strengthened their P7 in the Constructors’ Championship.
It wasn’t just Albon who was frustrated, as Vowles was also annoyed that such an unnecessary “lunge” by Perez cost the British team crucial points.
“Quite a few points on the table were taken away,” Vowles told Motorsport.com.
“It is frustrating that when you’re in a championship that’s being fought down to the point, and you’re leading against your direct rivals in this championship, to have it taken away from you hurts.
“And without good reason either. It was a lunge – there are sensible ways of overtaking and that was not the way to do it.
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“For a number of laps prior Perez was very much on the inside and trying to put his nose there. That in itself isn’t a problem, you’ve got to do aggressive techniques.
“But Alex had already committed to the turn-in point. And it’s overlapping at the back and it was contact into the sidepod. There was no way that was going to work.
“So it’s incredibly frustrating. You are into fine, fine margins. And this could be what decides the championship positions.”