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How Perez qualified second with some help from Verstappen

After his disastrous first practice session, in which he crashed with Esteban Ocon, and a anything but impressive second practice, in which his lap times lagged far behind those of the competition, Sergio Perez again seemed not to have an above-average race weekend in Italy. During the third practice session, the difference between him and teammate Max Verstappen was quite large, but the Mexican leaves the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna on Sunday from place two, after a solid qualification.

In it he admitted only 0.035 to pole sitter Lewis Hamilton and managed to stay ahead of Verstappen, while he was still more than half a second slower during the last practice and was about as fast as in the second part of qualifying on a softer tire. the Dutchman. The second starting place makes Perez logically satisfied, he tells afterwards about, among other things RacingNews365.

“It was a good session, because every time we take big steps forward. Every time I ride in the car, I learn something new and that is very nice. However, if there is a circuit where you cannot get your second Grand Prix. -want to spend a weekend with a new team, it is Imola It is one of the most difficult circuits to do a good lap It is so narrow, at any time you are only millimeters from the grass. I’m on this track, on my second weekend here … that means we’re making good steps “, he beams.

“The most important thing, however, is to keep making those steps forward,” Perez continues. “We need to understand why we were fast this Saturday and we need to maintain that consistency and keep getting better,” said the Red Bull driver, who says he lost enough time to reach pole position due to a mistake in his last fast lap. have missed out. ‘

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How could it be that Perez was half a second behind during the third practice, but then was very good at the end of qualifying? Perez secretly received some help from teammate Verstappen. We are not referring to the mistake made by the Dutchman in Q3, but to the data he produces: “I am increasingly understanding where I can gain more time. Moreover, I have a very good reference to Max, so that I can use it as often as possible. can squeeze one hundred percent out of the car, I can adapt better and learn step by step. “

Yet he honestly admits that he did not see second place on the grid. “I didn’t expect to be here because it still feels like I’m miles away from where I should be. It doesn’t feel natural yet, so this is a good confidence boost, not just that one. mine, but also the team’s. They now know that both drivers can push and help the team further. That’s very important. “

To what extent it will actually help Red Bull further, must be shown on Sunday during the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna. In it Perez starts on the soft tires, unlike Hamilton and Verstappen. “As a team, we think the soft tire is a good racing tire. Besides, I missed Q3 last time and this time I needed a flawless qualifying. Whether or not it’s the right strategy, I don’t think there is much of a difference. is between the two bands, so we are definitely competing for the win. “

Because of his alternative strategy, he can put pressure on Hamilton together with Verstappen. While Valtteri Bottas starts from eighth place, Perez hopes that he and his teammate can ensure a Red Bull victory. “The start is very important. Saturday was a good day, but of course it’s all about Sunday. I think we have a great car for the race. We are on an alternative strategy and as a team we will do everything we can. Hopefully will a Red Bull win on Sunday “, he concludes.

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