WATCH: Unseen footage reveals Sergio Perez’s heated confrontation with Carlos Sainz after Azerbaijan GP crash

During the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a dramatic crash between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr. ended both drivers' races. It also ignited a heated confrontation that was captured in previously unseen footage. The incident, which occurred on the penultimate lap, was the result of a fierce battle for second place between Perez, Sainz, and Sainz’s Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.

As the race progressed, the three drivers were engaged in a high-stakes duel. The clash unfolded on the straight between turns 2 and 3 when Sainz’s Ferrari and Perez’s Red Bull made contact. The collision sent both cars hurtling into the wall, abruptly ending their Grand Prix and sparking immediate frustration from Perez.

Here is the video:

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The onboard footage shared by Sky Sports reveals the intense moment that followed the crash. In the video, Perez can be seen approaching Sainz, who was still inside his damaged Ferrari. Perez appears to tap on Sainz's helmet and display visible irritation towards the Spaniard. This confrontation underscores the severity of the incident and the emotions involved.

What did Sergio Perez say after crash?

Perez’s frustration was evident from his team's radio communications, where he used a series of expletives to express his displeasure. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz was left bewildered by the turn of events. In his post-race comments, Sainz maintained that he did not believe he had committed any wrongdoing. 

He explained, "My feeling today is honestly I did nothing wrong, I didn’t do any erratic manoeuvre, put him against the wall, or anything like that. We were just, like every other lap, drifting a bit, a tiny, tiny little bit towards the left because that’s where the racing line is, and we just touched. It is what it is."

Sergio Perez also shared his perspective on the collision, describing the incident as unfortunate and rapid. He noted, "It’s very unfortunate. It all happened so quickly. I think Carlos was trying to follow the tow from Charles as he went to the inside and that made things hard."