Perez Revives 2021 Abu Dhabi Memory With Norris-Tsunoda Meme

Sergio Perez resurrected memories of his career-defining 2021 Abu Dhabi GP defense by reposting an Avengers: Endgame meme during Lando Norris' battle with Yuki Tsunoda. The Mexican driver's social media move subtly highlighted how critical defensive driving can alter championship outcomes—just as his two-lap hold-up of Lewis Hamilton enabled Max Verstappen's maiden title four years ago on the same Yas Marina circuit.

Why it matters:

This moment crystallizes how split-second defensive maneuvers can rewrite F1 history. Perez's 2021 action directly created the pit window for Verstappen's title-winning overtake, while Tsunoda's failed defense this year inadvertently secured Norris' championship. With titles now decided by margins smaller than five seconds, every defensive move carries championship-weight consequences.

The details:

• Perez shared Thanos' "Perhaps I treated you too harshly" meme—a pointed nod to his recent Red Bull exit—as Norris pressured Tsunoda in the closing laps.
• Norris executed an aggressive lunge down the straight, momentarily running wide, but stewards cleared him after determining Tsunoda committed the greater offense through weaving violations.
• The five-second penalty for Tsunoda proved decisive: Norris finished third but crossed the line seven seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc, making the penalty irrelevant to the final margin.
• Race control's decision hinged on Article 27.6 of sporting regulations: Tsunoda changed trajectory multiple times while defending, whereas Norris' track-limit breach was deemed a single incident without performance gain.
• This outcome mirrors 2021's pivotal moment when Perez's defense under safety car conditions forced Hamilton to follow slower traffic, gifting Verstappen the undercut opportunity.

What's next:

Perez's social media commentary arrives amid his emotional departure from Red Bull, adding poetic symmetry to the season finale. His meme serves as both a farewell tribute to his title-clinching moment and a reminder that defensive driving remains F1's most undervalued championship skill.

• The stewards' consistent application of weaving rules—penalizing Tsunoda similarly to how Verstappen was penalized in Austria 2022—signals stricter enforcement of defensive protocols.
• Norris' championship now hinges on this technicality, proving that in modern F1, title battles can be won through opponents' penalties rather than pure speed.
• As Perez transitions to Audi, his final Red Bull chapter closes with this meta-commentary on how his legacy-defining drive continues to influence the sport's biggest moments.