Perez 'regrets' Red Bull qualifying strategy as stewards meeting looms

Sergio Perez has claimed to "regret" Red Bull's tyre strategy after qualifying third for the Australian Grand Prix.

Perez secured the first pole position of his F1 career last time out at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but was unable to make it back to back Saturday successes.

The Mexican will start behind at least Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.

But things could yet get worse after he was summoned to face the stewards for ignoring yellow flags in Q2 after George Russell had gone off the track.

"It felt good," said Perez. "In Q1, Q2, things were going good.

"With all the red flags it is hard to keep the momentum going. I regret a bit the decision we took going into Q3 with our strategy on the tyres but I think P3 is a decent start for tomorrow."

The Australian Grand Prix is set to break attendance records this weekend with the grandstands packed already across Friday and Saturday.

Perez added: "I think we have got a nice race ahead of us so first of all I hope we make a lot of Aussies very happy because there are full grandstands already on Saturday so hopefully we can give them a nice race."

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