Formula 1: Sergio Perez Sets Unwanted Record As Red Bull Secures Constructors’ Championship in Japan

• Formula 1 headed to Suzuka for round 17 of the 2023 season
• Red Bull clinched the Constructors' championship as Max Verstappen coasted to victory
• Sergio Perez had a race to forget as he set an unwanted record

The Japanese Grand Prix of the 2023 Formula 1 season remains one of the tastiest races of the calendar so far.

The race, which featured hilarious fan gear spotted at the grandstand, was further brought to life by the reports of the cutting-edge innovation the sport witnessed in the mould of the 'Kiss Me' trophy designed by race sponsors Lenovo.

Red Bull racing had quite a turpsy-turvy race. The Milton Keynes team clinched their second consecutive Constructors' championship and sixth overall, according to reports from Racingnews365, and also had to deal with the meagre showing of unsettled driver Sergio Perez.

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The Mexican driver remains second on the drivers' standings behind teammate Max Verstappen, and had a race to forget.

As reported by ESPN F1, Checo, as he is fondly called, was involved in a clash with Lewis Hamilton as early as the first lap. He also earned himself a safety car penalty after he rejoined the race wrongly following his pit stop.

Checo then crashed into Haas driver Kevin Magnussen on lap 15, earning himself another penalty.

With the damages suffered to Perez's car deemed too much by his race engineer, the Mexican opted to retire from the race.

However, in quite surprising circumstances, the driver joined the race again with barely 12 laps to the end.

Sadly for Checo and his hype train, he was again advised to retire from the same race.

Retiring Checo from the race for the second time generated a flurry of reactions from fans. They headed to social media to express their take on the rollercoaster of a race the Red Bull driver experienced.

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Fans reactions to Sergio Perez's race

@Sahilmahajan27 tweeted:

"And then he makes a mockery of the whole system by going out again to serve a penalty so it doesn't spoil his next race?"

@Manyoge12 posted:

"Perez was a bit clumsy today."

@cowboyzales visibly frustrated, wrote:

"Bro is a liability. I'll take Liam Lawson over him today."

@Rezagolestani also posted:

"He is basically lost in, he is all over the place, drives like a rookie."

Perez, whose current Red Bull contract ends in 2024, as reported by Goal, will have to put on his best performance to impress the Milton Keynes team hierarchy if he wants any shot at getting a contract extension.

Japanese GP headlined by 'Kiss Me' trophy

Sports Brief stated that the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix was highlighted with cutting-edge innovation from the race title sponsor, Lenovo, following the addition of a distinctively modern trophy referred to as the 'kiss me trophy'.

The trophy is a sleek concept inspired by the design of an F1 car's air intake and the Lenovo logo. What sets it apart is the incorporation of smart technology that comes to life when the driver interacts with it.