Perez 'able to show what we got' as F1 pace returns

Sergio Perez believed that it was a matter of time before his pace returned, and the Red Bull driver now feels that his form is once again on song following his strong display in Brazil.

Perez finished Saturday’s sprint event at Interlagos third but missed out on a podium in Sunday’s Grand Prix after he was beaten to P3 by Fernando Alonso after a thrilling battle with the Aston Martin driver.

Although he was unable to rival his teammate Max Verstappen in Sao Paulo, Perez demonstrated the speed and consistency that was his earlier this season and that delivered race wins in Saudi Arabi and in Azerbaijan.

“I think the pace has been there for the last few weekends, but for some reason or another, we haven’t been able to pull it all together,” Perez commented after last weekend’s race.

“I think it was just a matter of time before it will come.

“I would have liked to be on the podium but I’m also, I have to say it hurts, losing, but I think I’m happy for Fernando because he did a good race.”

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Perez’s fourth-place finish in Brazil has given the Mexican some fresh breathing space in his fight for second in the Drivers’ championship against Lewis Hamilton. He now leads the Mercedes driver by 32 points with just two rounds to go.

“It’s a good weekend in the championship because we’re getting closer on that second spot,” Perez said.

“Now let’s look forward to Vegas which I believe it’s just a matter of time before we are able to show what we got.”

Perez’s strong weekend in Sao Paulo wasn’t lost on Red Bull team boss Christian Horner who praised his driver for a performance that was up the standard that is expected from the Mexican.

“Checo, I thought he drove brilliantly well today,” Horner said. “I mean, he had a little bit of a wobble at [Turn] 2 which allowed Fernando, who was very quick on the straights today, to have a go at him.

“He did his best to hang on to it, but I think for Checo to outscore Lewis by 12 points this weekend, it’s been a very strong weekend for him.

“A third yesterday, fourth from ninth from the grid with the yellow flag we got in quali, I think, has been very good points for him.

“I think Checo obviously had to take quite a lot out of his tyres, starting from ninth on the grid coming through the traffic, and he did a very good job with that.

“So when on the soft tyre, particularly at the end, you could see he was quicker but Fernando’s a wily old fox and just positioned the car very, very well.

“And it was great racing between the two of them, it really was entertaining to see the two going wheel to wheel like that.

I think that was the Checo today that we know what he’s capable of, and that’ll give him just the boost he needs going into another street track, that he’s always performed well at, out in Vegas, and then Abu Dhabi one week after.”

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