F1 racing: Sergio Perez stays calm to win chaotic Sakhir Grand Prix

SAKHIR, Bahrain â€”  Sergio Perez stayed calm amid the chaos at a remarkable Sakhir Grand Prix to clinch his first Formula One career win Sunday in his 190th race.

The Racing Point driver finished 10.5 seconds ahead of Renault’s Esteban Ocon and 11.9 seconds clear of teammate Lance Stroll.

“I’m speechless,� Perez said. “I hope I’m not dreaming.�

The Mexican does not even have an F1 seat next year after being replaced by Sebastian Vettel.

“I want to keep going,� Perez said. “If I’m not on the grid next year I will be in 2022.�

George Russell looked like he was capping a remarkable Mercedes debut with a confident win until his team made a terrible blunder after bringing him and Valtteri Bottas in for another change when the safety car was out on track with about 25 laps to go.

Russell’s stop was a bit slow but nothing compared with the one for Bottas, which took an agonizing 27 seconds as the mechanics could not fit his left front tire properly. Remarkably, Russell was then called in again because the team had fitted him with a mixed set of compound tires.

It was a rare failure for a Mercedes team that has dominated F1 since 2014 by winning every drivers’ and constructors’ championship.

Still, even with that mishap, Russell roared back brilliantly from fifth to second place and was closing on Perez when his rear tire punctured with eight laps remaining.

Perez, who made his debut in 2011, had a clear run to victory and clinched his 10th career podium, while Ocon got his first.

“I have no words,� Ocon said. “I was crying on the line.�

Russell finished ninth while Bottas was eighth on a humiliating night for F1 powerhouse Mercedes, which almost never makes mistakes. The illegal mixed compound tire change for Russell was being investigated by stewards after the race.

Russell is under contract with Williams but replaced Lewis Hamilton as the seven-time world champion recovers from the coronavirus. Hamilton, who sealed the title last month, remains doubtful for next weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi GP.

The race was halted after a first-lap crash caused by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who broke too early and clipped Perez’s car. That forced Max Verstappen to go wide in order to avoid Perez and he went off into some gravel and crashed into a wall.