Sergio Pérez took benefit of a thankfully timed protection automobile to overcome his teammate Max Verstappen to victory within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, including it to the dash he secured the day prior to, as Red Bull saved up its profitable begin to 2023.
Pérez took the lead when he controlled to avoid wasting pitting time throughout a security automobile duration after Verstappen had are available a lap previous.
“Well done guys, we dominated this weekend,” Pérez advised his staff over the radio. “We’re in the fight, guys.”
Verstappen began 2d at the back of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc however swept previous him at the lengthy start-finish immediately on the finish of lap 3, the primary lap on which drivers had been allowed to make use of the DRS overtake help gadget at the rear wing.
It used to be a replica of the move Pérez made on Leclerc on his strategy to profitable the dash race Saturday. After Verstappen took the lead Sunday, Pérez wanted best two extra laps for his personal an identical move on Leclerc to grab 2d, as Red Bull underlined its standing as F1’s dominant staff.
Pérez benefited when an twist of fate by means of Nyck de Vries introduced out the protection automobile after his AlphaTauri slid off the observe with a damaged suspension, simply after Verstappen had pitted from the lead. The protection automobile intended Pérez and Leclerc misplaced much less time on their stops and got here out forward of Verstappen.
After that, the 2 Red Bull drivers pulled clear of the pack and cruised to a simple win. Red Bull has received all 4 Grand Prix races this season and the dash in Baku on Saturday. Leclerc used to be 3rd to proceed his restoration after a deficient begin to the yr and stated the Red Bulls were “in another league” for race tempo.
With the win Pérez lower Verstappen’s standings result in six issues. They each and every have two victories this season however Pérez misplaced floor on the closing race in Australia when he used to be 5th after sliding off the observe in qualifying.
Pérez is the one motive force to win in Baku greater than as soon as and has 4 podium finishes in his closing 5 races there. The Mexican motive force joked he had received “two and a half” instances in Azerbaijan together with Saturday’s dash.
“It is what it is,” Verstappen stated of his consequence, describing the protection automobile timing as “unlucky.”
Fernando Alonso completed in fourth position, appearing sturdy tempo for Aston Martin after problems in qualifying on Friday, forward of Carlos Sainz, Jr. for Ferrari and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who recovered after shedding out within the protection automobile duration like Verstappen.
The 2d Aston Martin of Lance Stroll took 7th forward of Hamilton’s teammate George Russell, with McLaren’s Lando Norris and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda 9th and tenth, respectively.
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