P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Perez: F1 safety car meant it was "game over" for second place in China
In the Shanghai race, Leclerc and Norris delayed their first pitstop, opting for a one-stop strategy after a mid-race safety car incident involving Bottas. Perez and Verstappen ended up making two pitstops, with Verstappen managing to maintain his lead despite the extra stop. Perez, however, found himself stuck behind Norris and Leclerc after the second stop, unable to catch up due to tire degradation. Perez admitted that using up his tires to pass Leclerc made it impossible to challenge Norris. Team principal Horner acknowledged that the unfortunate timing of the safety car prevented Red Bull from achieving another one-two finish. The strategic decisions made under the safety car ultimately cost Perez valuable track position, affecting the team’s overall performance.
