After Red Bull found themselves behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc once again, Sergio Perez admitted that the Scuderia are faster over one lap.
Red Bull will see the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc ahead of them for the main 2023 Azerbaijan GP, as well as Saturday’s Sprint race, ending Red Bull’s 2023 qualifying domination.
“It was a tricky session in the end,” Perez told F1 TV after the Sprint Shootout.
“I think just having a little bit more of a clean run on my lap will have helped me probably to get pole, with Charles hitting the wall, but they’re just a bit stronger than us in over one lap.
“So hopefully this afternoon we are able to close the gap and and beat them on race pace.”
Red Bull race pace
Even though Red Bull have been the class of the field so far in the 2023 F1 season, their pace during the race has been extraordinary, and Perez is counting on that being the case in Azerbaijan once more.
“Yeah, it will be the target,” Perez said, when asked if he is still in the fight to win the Sprint.
“That will be the target for this afternoon and also for tomorrow [in the Azerbaijan GP].”