Red Bull achieved a remarkable one-two finish in Japan, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez leading the pack. The team has been in outstanding form this season, consistently securing pole position in every race. The Suzuka circuit witnessed Red Bull’s dominance once again, as they clinched a well-deserved victory in Honda’s home race. Perez expressed his excitement and satisfaction with the team’s impressive performance.
Perez acknowledged that it was a good weekend for the team, particularly with the successful start and restart after the red flag caused by Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon’s crash. However, the Mexican driver admitted that his race pace was not strong enough to catch up to Verstappen. He faced some difficulties during the medium stints but managed to bounce back on the hard compound.
In addition, Perez highlighted the momentum that the team has gained throughout the 2024 season. He mentioned that the Japanese weekend in 2023 was his worst, but this time around, he cheered and emphasized that Red Bull can excel in any circuit. After his dominant victory at the Japanese GP, Perez stated, “I think we are in a good momentum, here last year was probably my worst weekend so if we are strong in places like this, I think we can be strong everywhere.”
Sergio Perez has been performing exceptionally well in the qualifying sessions of the 2024 season. This led to a humorous bet between him and the team principal, Christian Horner, regarding the qualifying results. The bet revolved around Perez securing a front-row qualifying position, with Horner betting against it. However, Perez proved him wrong by qualifying in P2 and winning the bet. Horner jokingly expressed his disappointment over losing money, but Perez saw it as a way to keep him motivated. This bet showcased the strong bond and friendship between the driver and the team principal.
With the highly capable RB20 challenger, Red Bull is expected to continue their exceptional performance throughout the 2024 season. Perez’s impressive performances may even lead to a contract extension for the 34-year-old driver. As the team prepares for the upcoming sprint-weekend in China, the future looks promising for Red Bull and their base in Milton Keynes.