Emilia Romagna GP: Perez Defends Red Bull After Failed Bahrain GP Quali Strategy

Red Bull lost an intense battle against Mercedes in Bahrain. Part of their loss was down to the Silver Arrows’ superior. or rather bold, strategy calls. But the Austrian team themselves made some bold strategy calls during qualifying. Chief among them was sending out Sergio Perez on the medium compound tires during Q2. This plan ended in disaster, with Checo failing to qualify for Q3. But reflecting on that strategy call, Perez believes it was the right move.

Speaking at the drivers’ press conference ahead of the race in Imola, the Mexican driver was quick to defend Red Bull.

He said, “We could have diverted the strategy, but I was pretty confident. I lost three-tenths just in one corner by doing a mistake, so I was pretty confident that I was going to be able to get the lap time (this time around).

“(But) we had a little issue in the brakes, which we only found out later. Without that issue, we definitely would have been through. I think it was the right thing to do. If you have the car and to exploit the maximum result, you have to be in the best possible strategy.

“Considering we had the pace, it was definitely the right thing to do.”

Sergio wasn’t the only Red Bull driver to defend the team’s strategy calls; Max Verstappen did the same soon after the race. His comments were regarding the team’s call to keep him out as Mercedes brought Hamilton in early.

Can Sergio Perez clinch his maiden podium with Red Bull?

Despite a disappointing qualifying, the Mexican driver did quite an amazing job in his first race with the Austrian team. If anything, his brilliant effort flew under the radar because of the heated battle out front.

But while that was going on, Perez was flying up the grid, setting some impressive lap times to end the race in P5. This was after he had to start the race from the pitlane after his car shutdown on the formation lap. Checo certainly does have a reputation of turning up big time on a Sunday, and he definitely furthered that claim in Bahrain.

The result would be a massive confidence booster for him. And he’ll be hoping to take that confidence and convert it into a podium in Imola. However, it is always easier said than done. He may need to beat one of the two Mercedes, or perhaps even his teammate to do so.

Will the Mexican prove to everyone that he is the right man for the Red Bull seat? We shall soon see.

Also Read: Bahrain GP: Red Bull F1 Explain Sergio Perez’s Pre-Race Woes