Sergio Perez Clinches Victory at Azerbaijan GP as Red Bull’s Dominance Continues
Mar
Sergio Perez demonstrated a flawless performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing a commanding win in a weekend where he also triumphed in the sprint race. His teammate, Max Verstappen, claimed second place, maintaining Red Bull’s dominance in the current Formula One season.
Red Bull’s utter supremacy has created a scenario where the battle for the world championship appears to be confined within the team itself. Perez’s impeccable weekend significantly narrowed the gap to Verstappen in the championship standings, reducing the Dutchman’s lead to a mere six points.
Despite starting behind Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, both Verstappen and Perez effortlessly overtook the Monegasque driver in the early laps. While Verstappen initially seemed poised for an easy victory, he lost precious time to Perez during a pit stop under a safety car period. Consequently, it was Perez who glided to the win, with Leclerc securing third place, marking his first podium of the season.
As Perez celebrated his victory, confusion unfolded at the other end of the race when Esteban Ocon entered the pit lane where people were gathered. Fortunately, Ocon managed to avoid any incidents, ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
Reflecting on the race, Perez shared his thoughts with Sky Sports, stating, “It really worked out today for us. We managed to stay in the DRS train and keep the pressure on Max. I think we had better degradation on that first stint.”
The initial part of the race saw Perez closely tailing Verstappen after both overtook Leclerc. Perez took the lead when Verstappen pitted just before a safety car was deployed due to Nyck de Vries’ retirement. Verstappen, restarting in third, quickly reclaimed second place from Leclerc but didn’t pose a serious challenge to Perez for the win.
Verstappen acknowledged the impact of the safety car, stating, “The safety car was a bit unlucky. I have to try to stay very close to try and get into the DRS. I think the tires were overheating a bit because of that, trying to follow.”
Despite the race further affirming Red Bull’s dominance, the battles within and between teams throughout the season promise ongoing drama and excitement in Formula One. Leclerc, acknowledging Red Bull’s superior race pace, commented, “Red Bull are in another league when it comes to the race. A very good (qualification) lap managed to put us in front, but over 51 laps, it was just not possible; they have so much pace than us in race pace.”
