Perez looks back on GP Abu Dhabi: 'We went through a lot of emotions'

Max Verstappen already has the opportunity to win the world championship this coming weekend. It would be his second career world title for the Dutchman, following his win last season in Abu Dhabi. Back then, Sergio Perez played a very important role.

Lewis Hamilton was off to a great start in the final race of last season and then seemed to be going for his eighth world title, but Sergio Perez, among others, put a stop to that. As the temporary leader of the driver field, the Mexican managed to keep Hamilton behind for laps, causing the Mercedes driver to lose a lot of time.

"It was a race where Mercedes was a bit stronger," Perez recalled at a Honda press event. The driver says he had to work hard to make overtaking impossible for Hamilton, but that it left him feeling fulfilled. "I was really happy about that," he said.

After Hamilton drove past Perez, Verstappen's gap with his rival only grew. That changed when Nicholas Latifi drove into the wall and a safety car entered the track. "We went through a lot of emotions, but luckily we were able to cheer with the team afterwards," Perez concluded.