Azerbaijan GP: Sergio Perez Nears Max Verstappen In F1 Title Race With Victory
Azerbaijan GP: Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third behind Red Bull duo of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen.
In an almost near-perfect performance, Red Bull's Sergio Perez beat teammate Max Verstappen to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit on Sunday (April 30). The race for the first position at the Grand Prix seemed to be between the two teammates but it was the Mexican who overtook by saving some time after managing to make his pit spot under the safety car.
Post that, there was no looking back for Perez. He seemed to be in control as he had Verstappen just over a second behind him, however, when it mattered the most during the final minutes of the match, he extended his lead in the race.
Initally though both the Red Bulls had the task of getting past the pole setter- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Once they did that, an early Safety Car caused by Nyck de Vries crashing meant a chance for Perez to take the lead. Leclerc, eventually finished third.
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"It really worked out today for us," Perez said after the race as quoted in a Sky Sports report.
"We managed to stay in the DRS train and keep the pressure on Max," he added.
"I think it was very close between us, we pushed to the maximum, we both clipped the wall a few times," he said.
Even though the Ferrari had secured a pole position, Leclerc wasn't the favourites to go all the way. However, he did manage to have a great drive and keep Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso behind him to end up with what was his first podium finish of this season.
This was by all means an improved weekend for Ferrari as Carlos Sainz also finished on the fifth place. He was ahead of Lewis Hamilton who recovered to finish sixth on Sunday.
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