Sergio Perez, the new Red Bull recruit, showcased some wonderful performances during the three practices and qualifying sessions. But the tricky Italian circuit abstained Checo, to get a pole position on the race day.
The former Racing Point driver joined the Austrian constructor with a one-year contract. He has been a wonderful addition to the team, attaining a P5 in the season-opener, and will also start at P2 at the Imola race.
Welcome to the front row, @SChecoPerez 😉#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/zh1xe0sMQ6
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 17, 2021
For the first time in Checo’s career, he will begin a race in the first row. However, the driver could have gotten a P1 at the Imola Qualifying but because of going wider at the final few turns, he lost some time and had to settle with second place to Lewis Hamilton for the weekend race.
Perez mentioned his happiness to qualify in the top three and further stated his little disappointment for not getting the pole, “I never expected to be here today with where we were yesterday.
“I should have been on pole today, I made a mistake on the final corner. Tomorrow is what matters”
CHECO: "I never expected to be here today with where we were yesterday.
"I should have been on pole today, I made a mistake on the final corner. Tomorrow is what matters"#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/mniiw7Pnov
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 17, 2021
Sergio Perez and his performance in Imola
The 31-year-old Mexican is one of the best drivers in Formula One at the moment. He is known for his handling of a car and he showcased his talent in the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. As, Checo ran into some mechanical issues with the RB16B during the formation lap at Shakir, which forced him to start from the pit lane behind all the other cars.
From a pit lane start to a P5 finish
It was an eventful Red Bull debut for @SChecoPerez
And you voted him Driver of the Day in Bahrain! 🏆#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #F1 pic.twitter.com/cu1PVZ7Jhq
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 28, 2021
However, the Red Bull racer overtook 15 cars at the nail-biting season opener to finish at P5. Further, he even got nominated as the Driver of the Day.
Checo again performed excellently at the Autodrome Enzo e Dino Ferrari. But in the first session, Perez couldn’t finish in the top 10. However, in the FP2 and FP3, he finished sixth and fourth, respectively. Further got a P2 grid position for the race day. Meanwhile, his Dutch teammate Max Verstappen finished at P3.
Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda launches off a raised kerb during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on April 17, 2021, in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Sergio Perez is looking forward to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, April 18. We might expect him to claim his second race victory in Imola after the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
