Sergio Perez felt the sting of disappointment at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix after failing to help Red Bull achieve a one-two finish. His journey to a third-place finish was a rollercoaster; he first lost second place to Fernando Alonso right at the start in Turn 1. After recovering that spot, his progress was derailed again by a Safety Car period triggered by a mechanical failure for Valtteri Bottas in his Kick Sauber.
Sergio Perez was devastated to deny Red Bull a one-two finish at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, losing positions during the Safety Car periods before crossing the line in third place. Perez had a challenging start to the race when Fernando Alonso passed him for second place into Turn 1. While he went on to recapture the position, the Mexican was once again defeated when a Virtual Safety Car, which later became a real Safety Car, was used midway through the event to rescue Valtteri Bottas’ stricken Kick Sauber, which had developed a mechanical problem.
During that chaotic phase, Perez found himself trailing both Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. The 34-year-old had to fight hard to reclaim his standing, eventually passing the Ferrari on Lap 39 to secure his spot on the podium. When questioned if the team's strategy was to blame, Perez confirmed that the timing of the Safety Car was a major setback, costing him two vital positions.
The tire strategy also played a part, as Perez spent the majority of the race on hard compounds. He noted that early-race battles tend to degrade the tires much faster than usual. While he was pleased to stand on the podium, he admitted it would have been far more satisfying to see both Red Bulls in the top two. Beyond the Safety Car luck, Perez conceded that his overall race pace wasn't where it needed to be.
Perez pointed to a struggle with the medium tires and an unbalanced car as key issues. He mentioned that the team made several adjustments between yesterday and today, but they didn't quite nail the changing conditions. Despite the lack of raw pace during the race, he viewed the weekend as a strong effort overall and feels they have identified exactly why the car underperformed on race day.
Even with the difficulties faced at the Shanghai International Circuit, Perez is looking ahead. He is optimistic about being more competitive against Max Verstappen during the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 3-5.
When asked if he's still aiming for the top spot in the next race, the 34-year-old confirmed that winning remains his primary target. Currently, Perez holds second place in the drivers' standings with 85 points, trailing leader Max Verstappen by 25 points.