RaceFans Round-up: Settings change frustrates Perez

In brief

Settings change frustrates Perez

After failing to reach the final stage of sprint qualifying when eliminated in 11th, Red Bull driver Sergio Perez said changing settings between sessions contributed to his early exit.

“Very, very frustrating,” Perez told the official F1 channel. “Especially from SQ1 to SQ2, we didn’t have any progression. If anything, we took a step back with the tyres, so that made things a lot trickier unfortunately. But it what it is at the end. Hopefully we’re able to learn quite a bit, as we did today, from the car and make sure that in qualifying we are able to put it all together.

“I think I’m struggling a bit with the ride issues in the high speed. Something we will have a look at. Our long run pace looked very promising this morning, so I think we’ve got some work to do still for the rest of the weekend, as the main target is to be strong in the race.”

Williams sign 10-year-old junior

Williams have announced they have signed a 10-year-old karting prodigy as the newest member of their driver academy.

American karting racer Lucas Palacio took second place in this year’s WSK Super Master Series after winning several national championships in the United States last year. He will now be nurtured by Williams as he continues his karting career.

“He’s an exciting young talent that has shown promise in his first few years in karting and has progressed quickly for his age,” said Williams sporting director Sven Smeets. “We’re looking forward to supporting Lucas as he continues to develop throughout his karting career.”

Slater steps up to FREC

Multiple F4 series champion Freddie Slater will move up to the Formula Regional European Championship next season with Prema, the team has announced.

The 16-year-old dominated last year’s Ginetta Junior Championship on the British Touring Car Championship schedule, then stepped up into single seaters. He won this year’s UAE F4 championship, clinched the Italian F4 title with a full round to spare and came second in the Euro 4 championship.

“Freddie has left an amazing impression this year,” said Prema team principal Rene Rosin. “The number of races he won, and the way he won them, revealed an incredible potential and we are proud to keep working with him for the next step of his career in Formula Regional.”