Perez pips Verstappen to claim Azerbaijan Grand Prix for Red Bull

Baku: Sergio Pérez took advantage of a fortunately timed safety car to beat his teammate Max Verstappen to the win in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, adding it to the sprint he won the day before, as Red Bull maintain their winning start to 2023.

Verstappen started second behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc but swept past him on the long start-finish straight at the end of lap 3, the first lap on which drivers were allowed to use the DRS overtake assist system on the rear wing.

Mexican Sergio Perez after winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images

It was a copy of the pass Perez made on Leclerc on his way to winning the sprint race Saturday. After Verstappen took the lead Sunday, Perez needed only two more laps for his own similar pass on Leclerc to seize second, as Red Bull underlined its status as F1’s dominant team.

Perez benefited when an accident by Nyck de Vries brought out the safety car after his AlphaTauri slid off the track with a broken suspension, just after Verstappen had pitted from the lead. The safety car meant Perez and Leclerc lost less time on their stops and came out ahead of Verstappen.

After that, the two Red Bull drivers pulled away from the pack and cruised to a straightforward win. Red Bull has won all four grand prix races this season and the sprint in Baku on Saturday. Leclerc was third to continue his recovery after a poor start to the year.

“Well done guys, we dominated this weekend,” Perez told his team over the radio. “We are in the fight, guys.”

AP

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