P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Perez: Bahrain F1 Q3 mistake cost me top three grid position
Sergio Perez from Red Bull Racing finished the Q3 session 0.358 seconds behind Verstappen, with Leclerc, Russell, and Sainz narrowly beating him. Perez knows he must deliver this season to secure his Red Bull seat beyond 2025. Despite a frustrating start, he remains optimistic after Verstappen’s successful pole position. Perez admitted to a mistake at Turn 1 costing him a higher grid position but sees potential for improvement in the RB20. He praised the car’s entry stability and expressed confidence in the team’s progress and race pace. Perez emphasized the team’s focus on racing amid distractions in the garage and anticipated a challenging race with close competition on Saturday evening.
