P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sergio Perez insists that Red Bull Formula 1 team-mate Max Verstappen wouldn’t have beaten Ferrari to the win in the
Max Verstappen started the race on pole position aiming to achieve his 10th consecutive victory, but his race was cut short after only four laps due to a right rear brake issue. The problem had been present from the beginning, allowing Carlos Sainz to close in and overtake Verstappen with DRS on lap two. Sainz went on to lead a Ferrari 1-2 finish, with Sergio Perez acknowledging that even Verstappen might not have been able to stop Ferrari’s dominance in the race. Perez, who qualified third but was penalized for impeding another driver, struggled to make up positions and finished fifth, citing tire management issues and performance difficulties throughout the weekend. The front-limited nature of the Albert Park Circuit exposed Red Bull’s struggles with front tire degradation, highlighting the need for improvement in future races. Despite Perez’s challenges, the race ended on a frustrating note when a tear-off from another car got stuck under his floor during a key overtaking maneuver.
