Sergio Perez makes shocking claim, asserts Ferrari would’ve won Australian GP regardless of Max Verstappen’s DNF

Sergio Perez managed a fifth place finish at the Australian GP.

Sergio Perez makes shocking claim, asserts Ferrari would’ve won Australian GP regardless of Max Verstappen’s DNF

Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, and Max Verstappen (Via: Imago)

The Red Bull F1 team did not have the best of outings during the 2024 Australian GP. Max Verstappen was knocked after a lap four DNF, whereas Sergio Perez was only able to manage a fifth-place finish in the 58-lap event.

The RB20 did not prove as mighty as everyone expected it to be around Albert Park. Sergio Perez, after the race, admitted that the Ferrari F1 team would have won even if Max Verstappen had not come away with a DNF.

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Ferrari managed a 1-2 finish at the Australian GP with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc!

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I think just as a team, we didn’t have the pace today. We didn’t have the pace throughout the weekend. We were struggling already from Friday, and we never got on top of the management of tyres. But yeah, we just have to understand and make sure we are ready to improve. We already saw last year in a track like this, a front-limited track, Ferrari was a lot stronger.
Sergio Perez said in an interview with Formu1A.Uno

Perez when asked would Sainz have won regardless of Verstappen’s DNF. He responded,

Absolutely.
Sergio Perez further added

After the Saudi Arabian GP, Ferrari has managed to close the gap to Red Bull in the 2024 Constructors and Driver’s Championship. As things stand, the Italian team is only four points behind Red Bull. The same is the case in the driver’s tussel with Leclerc four points behind Verstappen.

Christian Horner’s take on Red Bull’s tough outing at Albert Park

While Sergio Perez has given his perspective on Red Bull’s outing at the 2024 Australian GP, Christian Horner has also taken the time to dwell on it. The whole team is extremely frustrated.

Christian Horner
Christian Horner (Via: IMAGO)

Horner believes a plethora of issues on the two RB20s led to Red Bulls’ tough day around Albert Park.

Our first DNF since 2022 which coincidently was also here in Melbourne. It was not the race we were looking to run. Firstly with Max’s car it was obviously really disappointing to have that brake issue. I think actually from the start of the Grand Prix, it felt like the brakes were locked on which obviously created an issue as it is effectively like having the handbrake on throughout the race.
Christian Horner said post Australian GP

Red Bull only managed to score 10 points at the Australian GP in comparison to Ferrari’s 44. Next up on the F1 calendar is the Japanese Grand Prix. Max Verstappen won the event last year and considering his and Red Bull’s most recent outing, he will be determined to make things right at the famous Suzuka racing circuit.

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