Red Bull convinced it is finally "coming together" for Perez

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is in no doubt Sergio Perez is beginning to understand the car following his performance in the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Like other drivers who switched teams over the winter, Perez's transition from Racing Point to Red Bull has proven to be a difficult one to date.

But in Portimão, Perez conjured his best result of the season with fourth after starting from the same position, with only the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas and team-mate Max Verstappen ahead of him.

"He’s getting there," said Horner. "Here [Portugal] has been very difficult because of the wind but you can see the races are coming together for him.

"Once he was in clean air he was doing the same lap times as the leaders, and at certain points was setting the fastest lap so I think it’s really coming together for him.

"I’m happy with the progress he’s making and it’s only with more time and experience that everything’s coming together for him."

Perez conceded he spent too many laps behind McLaren's Lando Norris following the safety car restart after being passed by the Briton in the turn five hairpin.

Perez felt that once clear of Norris his "pace was good" but it was ultimately "too late" to then make any impression on the leaders.

Assessing the overall performance of the car, Perez added: "I was happier, but there is a good amount of work to be done for Barcelona.

"From my side, I'm getting a bit more comfortable, a bit more in the rhythm with the car."

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