Perez keeps Baku podium after post-race scare

Perez keeps Baku podium after post-race scare

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Sunday 29 April 2018 17:30

Sergio Perez kept his third-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix despite a post-race tript to the stewards over an "illegal use of DRS". The Force India driver breezed past a flat-spotted Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel in a crazy finish in Baku, securing a Mexican-record eighth F1 podium.

Vettel lost top spot in the drivers' standings to Lewis Hamilton after a crazy race in Baku, which saw the Ferrari driver fail with a late move on leader Valtteri Bottas, who in turn lost the win due to a puncture.

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Perez emerged from the chaos to secure third place behind Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, matching his result in Baku two years ago.

All drivers had suffered issues with DRS during the race and had to operate it manually as the FIA-controlled automatic systems failed to operate properly.

And the stewards accepted that Perez was guilty of no wrongdoing in earning a podium which takes him beyond Pedro Rodriguez's previous record tally of top-three finishes.

Perez was delighted with his performance and, before meeting the stewards, he said: "Today I think I did the best two laps of my whole career.

"The last two laps, with Sebastian behind, with cold tyres. It was so difficult. I was on the superosft tyres and I had to keep a very strong rhythm and try and keep close to Raikkonen so Sebastian didn't get close enough.

"I'm speechless."