Sergio Perez believes a first Formula 1 pole should have been his after narrowly missing out in qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Mexican was just 0.035s slower than Lewis Hamilton at Imola but did become the first Red Bull driver to beat Max Verstappen on a Saturday since the 2019 Italian Grand Prix by clinching second.
While that marks Perez’s first front-row start in F1, speaking in Parc Ferme, it was still a case of what could have been for Checo.
“I should have been on pole today,” he stated. “I did a mistake on my final corner, so I think it’s everything positive.
“But we just have to make sure that we keep progressing, and tomorrow is what matters.”
Also Read:
- Perez: Experience & Sunday skills key to challenging Verstappen
- Red Bull expect to replicate Ricciardo/Verstappen dynamic with Perez
The result was a surprise as Perez had been struggling to match the pace of the frontrunners throughout practice, particularly after getting caught up in a tangle with Esteban Ocon in FP1.
“I have to say well done to the team,” he said. “Yesterday I made a mistake and I made them work hard during the day, so it’s a good recovery.
“But the most important is always showing progress. I never expected to be here today where we were yesterday. We’ve been improving, but it’s just important to be P2.”
Perez was also particularly happy to be on the pace on a circuit he admits isn’t ideal for drivers still adapting to their new cars.
“I have a pretty good reference in Max, he is just getting 100 per cent all the time out of the car, and just adapting myself to it,” he explained.
“I’m learning, step by step, I wasn’t expecting myself to be here at the moment as I feel I am miles away from where I should be.
“But every time we are in the car we are making big steps, so it was a good session in that regard because every time I am driving this car I am learning something new and that’s pretty good.
“If there is a place you don’t want to come in your second race with a new team it’s probably Imola – it’s one of the most difficult circuits around to put a lap together, the limit is so narrow, you are millimetres all the time from the grass.
“To be there, to be here, in my second race is a pretty good step from our side.”
Looking forward, Perez has a strong chance of leading into Tamburello at the start on Sunday, as he will use the soft tyres for the first stint versus the mediums for Hamilton and Verstappen.
And asked about his race prospects, he replied: “I think anything can happen tomorrow. We are on a different strategy to Lewis and Max so, it’s gonna be interesting to see what we can do.
“Most important [is to] get those points, get battling, which is priority at the moment.”