Azerbaijan GP: Sergio Perez elaborates on late Red Bull issue that hampered qualifying

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has explained the reason for his late appearance on the track in the closing stages of qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The streets of Baku host the latest round of this year’s Formula 1 world championship and Charles Leclerc will lead them into turn one on Sunday.

Indeed, it looked as though it would be him or the in-form Perez to take pole on Saturday afternoon, based on each of the three practice sessions prior, and ultimately it was the Ferrari man that pulled off the best lap time.

Perez’s preparation for one final charge at pole was hampered, though, with him unable to get out on track when was first intended for his last run in Q3, and that meant he missed out on picking up any tow down the long start/finish straight at the Baku circuit, which could well have proven decisive.

Speaking post-session, the Monaco Grand Prix winner revealed that a problem with switching his RB18’s engine on was the culprit:

“It was not an ideal qualifying because at the end we just had a problem with the engine, we couldn’t turn it on.

“That meant I was basically on my own and that’s very powerful around here.

“Who knows if it was enough for pole but certainly we lost a few tenths. I think Charles has done a very good lap.”

We’ll never know whether Perez would have taken pole but it does seem safe to assume this slightly ruined his preparation for that final run.

He starts second tomorrow regardless, though, and will be eager to try and make it back-to-back wins in Baku.