Formula 1®

DHL Fastest Lap: Perez has “Magic Formula”

Sergio Perez pilots DHL Fastest Lap in Austria

Force India driver Sergio Perez took full advantage of what Christian Danner calls the “magic formula” to set the DHL Fastest Lap in Spielberg as Formula 1 was back in Austria for the first time in a decade.

Click play above to watch cockpit footage of Sergio Perez’s Fastest Lap and DHL’s F1® Expert and former F1 driver Christian Danner telling the story behind it.

One day before his countrymen secured their spot in the final sixteen of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, Mexican driver Sergio Perez secured his spot on the DHL Fastest Lap table! The Force India piloted a superb round in Lap 59 after pitting a few laps before for the super softs. Low on fuel and light as a feather, Sergio had what DHL’s F1 Expert and former F1 driver Christian Danner calls the “magic formula” for setting fastest lap. And he did so in style, navigating the Spielberg circuit with speed and precision. The beautiful backdrop of the Styrian Mountains simply made it that much more fun to watch.

“It was such an incredible pleasure to be back in Austria. The race track here in the Styrian Mountains is wonderful.” (Christian Danner)

Podium pace
After a grid penalty put Sergio in P16 in the starting grid, the young Mexican fought his way through midfield in a Force India that showed good pace, passing Jenson Button at a key moment in the race.

"Today we got a very positive result for the team, especially considering where we started the afternoon. […] I had a very strong start and made up a good few positions. [Not having the penalty] would have made a big difference because we had the pace to fight for a podium today.”

“We had the pace to fight for a podium today.” (Sergio Perez)

Up front fans we treated to another thriller as the silver arrows fought for the lead that ended in another Mercedes one-two. Nico Rosberg held off the intense pressure from teammate Lewis Hamilton to take the checkered flag – his third victory of the year.

The standings
After eight races Rosberg is 29 points ahead of teammate Hamilton, while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is right on the heels of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.

In the Constructors’ table, the Silver arrows are cruising lonesome on the top, followed by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari. Scoring an amazing 27 points in Spielberg, Williams is back among the top five teams.

Nico Rosberg still leads the DHL Fastest Lap Award ranking with three. Hamilton, Vettel, Räikkönen, Massa and now Perez each have one. The race for the 2014 DHL Fastest Lap is far from over!

See all Danner’s Fastest Lap Tips and Reviews!
Christian Danner shares the Fastest Lap story with us each week and you can have a look back at his past picks and reviews at any time on DHL's YouTube channel. Before and after each Grand Prix this season, Christian Danner offers up his pick for the DHL Fastest Lap and then reviews that perfect lap after the race. “One thing that is so cool about the fastest lap,” says Danner, “is that there’s always a story behind the story.” Click here to keep pace with what is happening in Formula 1 and DHL Motorsports on DHL InMotion – events that will move you!

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