P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sergio Perez says being caught in a fight with Charles Leclerc on his final flying lap cost him enough time to be knocked out in SQ1 at the Qatar Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver was already close t…
Sergio Perez expressed disappointment in being eliminated from SQ1 at the Qatar Grand Prix due to a fight with Charles Leclerc on his final flying lap, costing him enough time by just 0.013s. Despite significant progress with the car leading up to qualifying, Perez found himself starting from 16th in a Sprint race with slim chances of scoring points. Max Verstappen, the newly crowned world champion, also struggled in qualifying, feeling the car lacked pace and balance, resulting in a P6 starting position. Verstappen anticipates a challenging Sprint race and qualifying session ahead, with low expectations for a sudden performance turnaround. Overall, both Red Bull drivers face an uphill battle in the upcoming race weekend.
