F1 News: Red Bull star hints at title fight after claiming rivals were a 'step ahead'

Sergio Perez platica con Max Verstappen en Bahréin — Photo: © IMAGO

Australian Grand Prix

Red Bull star hints at title fight after claiming rivals were a 'step ahead'

The Mexican was the sole remaining Red Bull in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix

By Sam Cook.

Monday 25 March 2024 01:00

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has suggested that Ferrari would have beaten his world champion team, even if Max Verstappen didn't have a DNF at the Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen suffered a mechanical issue with his rear right brake, causing the Dutchman to retire from the race.

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The three-time world champion had been overtaken by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz even before the issue became apparent, having failed to speed off into the distance on lap one as we so often see from the 26-year-old.

Sainz went on to win the race, with Charles Leclerc's solid performance securing a one-two for the Maranello-based outfit. Perez meanwhile, as the sole remaining Red Bull, could only finish fifth.

Carlos Sainz won comfortably in Australia

Sergio Perez could only finish fifth in Australia

Perez admits Red Bull struggles

At the very least, the team will hope that they can have more days like they had in Melbourne, and Perez believes that there are tracks in which Red Bull are vulnerable to the threats from behind.

"We just didn't have the pace unfortunately," the Mexican told Sky Sports F1.

"I think we struggled early on. We could see Ferrari and McLaren were a step ahead of us.

"We couldn't get the balance into the window. There's some work to do for the coming races. It was a very unique tarmac and throughout the weekend we were not able to manage the best possible grip level.

"Just as a team we didn't have the pace throughout the weekend.

"We were struggling already from Friday and never got on top of the management of tyres. We just have to understand and improve.

"We already saw on a track like this, like Vegas, Ferrari were stronger than us and we couldn't look after our front tyres."

When asked whether Ferrari would have won if Red Bull team-mate Verstappen did not retire, Perez said: "Absolutely yes."

Max Verstappen Ferrari Charles Leclerc Sergio Perez Carlos Sainz Australian Grand Prix