Perez to miss F1 race after crash

Published May. 28, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Mexico's Sergio Perez will miss the Monaco Grand Prix after sustaining a concussion and a thigh injury in the most violent of three crashes during qualifying Saturday.

The Sauber driver lost control of his car as he was about to come out of the tunnel. The front slid right and slammed into the tunnel barrier, spinning the car around and into a tire wall.

Perez was taken to the Princess Grace hospital in Monaco and was to be kept overnight. His team said he will miss Sunday's race.

''It is with great relief that the Sauber F1 team received the news that Sergio Perez has no serious injuries,'' the team said in a statement. ''The doctors said Perez had suffered concussion and a sprained thigh, but no broken bones and, following a scan, they could find no further injuries.''

A medical crew rushed to Perez's car, and a giant blanket was immediately draped over it. After a few minutes the battered car was lifted off the track.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg and Hispania's Vitantonio Liuzzi were both unharmed after crashing in practice earlier Saturday.

Rosberg crashed at almost exactly the same spot as Perez, who is racing in his debut F1 season, but the Mexican's accident was more frightening.

Qualifying was suspended with only a few minutes left, leaving drivers waiting in their cars for it to resume.

Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel secured his fifth pole of the season after posting the fastest time on Saturday.

Vettel is already threatening to run away with the championship after earning four wins five races to build a commanding lead over Lewis Hamilton. The German can add to his advantage with his first victory in Monaco.

''It's a bit of a casino, a lot of things going on,'' Vettel said. ''It's a long race, 78 laps. Pole position here is very important so we can be very happy with that, although there's no guarantees for tomorrow.''

Vettel's lap of 1 minute, 13.556 seconds gave Red Bull its sixth straight pole, ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button and Vettel's teammate Mark Webber.

''If you'd asked me before qualifying if I would have taken third, I probably would have,'' Webber said. ''Absolutely it is possible to win (from third on the grid). Qualifying here is crucial, no question about that.

''Pole is certainly nice to have. Seb did a great lap again today and deserves the pole, JB did a great run as well.''