BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JUNE 11: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on June 11, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Mexican Sergio Pérez produced an excellent lap late on in Saturday qualifying to secure a front-row spot for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix with Dutch teammate Max Verstappen in third and Scuderia AlphaTauri duo Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda sixth and eighth respectively.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JUNE 11: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan driving the (22) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT03 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on June 11, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JUNE 11: Pierre Gasly of France driving the (10) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT03 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on June 11, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Fresh off a new Oracle Red Bull Racing contract extension, Pérez, 32, said: “I hit the wall a couple of times but luckily we managed to survive, which is the key really here.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JUNE 11: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on June 11, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
At the end, we just had a problem with the engine and we couldn’t turn it on. I was basically out on my own and, certainly, we lost a few tenths. Tomorrow is a very long race ahead.”
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JUNE 11: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on June 11, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Verstappen, 24, said: “The start of the lap was good and then it went away from me a little bit. Tiny mistakes. Struggling a bit to find front to rear balance over one lap.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JUNE 11: Third placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on June 11, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Not, of course, what I want but as a team being second and third, we have a good opportunity for tomorrow.”
