P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Perez: Sainz would have "absolutely" won F1 Australian GP against Verstappen
Max Verstappen, who started on pole position, had a stuck brake from the beginning of the Melbourne race, ultimately causing him to lose the lead to Carlos Sainz on lap 2. Unfortunately, the Dutch driver had to retire on lap 4 due to his right-rear brake issue. Despite Verstappen’s troubles, Sergio Perez of Red Bull acknowledged Ferrari’s strong performance, especially in managing front tyre graining, and believed Sainz would have won the race regardless. Perez, who finished fifth after starting in sixth, noted the Milton Keynes team’s struggle with tyre management on the front-limited track of Albert Park. A three-place grid penalty for impeding in qualifying pushed Perez back, and he faced difficulties overtaking George Russell’s Mercedes early on and catching up to Oscar Piastri’s McLaren later in the race. Reflecting on the difficult weekend, Perez emphasized the need for improvement and understanding moving forward, recognizing the challenges faced against the stronger front tyre-focused teams like Ferrari.
