Sergio Perez endured another frustrating session at the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying, as he was eliminated in SQ1, finishing 16th after a dramatic clash with Charles Leclerc on his final flying lap. The Red Bull driver, already under pressure from recent poor performances, attributed his early exit to the incident at Turn 1, which he claimed cost him critical time.
The Incident: Perez vs. Leclerc
As Perez began his final lap, he encountered Charles Leclerc attempting to overtake on the inside heading into the first corner. Perez managed to hold his line but admitted that the altercation disrupted his rhythm and cost him vital tenths.
Perez:
“Unfortunately we left a little bit late. We had an issue with one of the anti-roll bars, and then on my final lap, we were all opening gaps, and then Charles came. We were fighting into Turn 1 and so on, and we lost a couple of tenths there.”
The Mexican fell just 0.013 seconds short of progressing to SQ2, lamenting the missed opportunity to showcase the car’s improved pace after a lackluster FP1.
A Sprint Challenge from P16
Starting from 16th on the grid for the Sprint Race, Perez acknowledged the uphill battle he faces, particularly given the absence of pit stops and limited opportunities for overtaking in such a short format.
Perez:
“I think it’s going to be very difficult. For now, we will focus on the rest of the weekend. In such a short race, I don’t think there will be a lot that we can do. But yeah, we will try.”
Max Verstappen’s Struggles Continue
It wasn’t a stellar session for newly crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen, either. The Dutchman qualified a disappointing P6 for the Sprint, citing balance issues as the primary reason for his lack of pace.
Verstappen:
“Just no pace, to be honest. Too slow — I just don’t really have the balance to attack. Entry to mid-corner, the car is just a bit off, and that makes it really difficult around here.”
Verstappen admitted that while the high-speed sections of the Lusail International Circuit suited the Red Bull, the car struggled in slower, more technical areas, leaving him unable to mount a serious challenge.
“The Sprint will probably be tough to fight the cars around me. For the other qualifying, let’s see if we can improve, but I don’t expect miracles.”
Red Bull’s Woes in Qatar
The struggles of both Red Bull drivers come at a critical juncture in the season. With McLaren and Ferrari battling for the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull’s uncharacteristic lack of pace puts the team’s chances of a recovery in serious doubt.
While Perez focuses on damage control, the spotlight is firmly on Verstappen to salvage a strong result for the team in the Sprint. However, with balance issues persisting, Red Bull’s dominance looks increasingly vulnerable on the unforgiving Qatar circuit.
