Sergio Perez: Pole position curse strikes Red Bull driver at Saudi GP

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez had no luck on Sunday evening at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as his chances of a race victory took a big blow around the first set of pit-stops.

The Mexican roared away from pole position after the lights went out and build up a decent enough gap between himself in P1 and Charles Leclerc in P2.

Indeed, Checo appeared to have it all under control but the racing gods intervened, and he soon found himself in fourth place – where he’d remain for the rest of the race.

It all began when Ferrari threatened to pit and Red Bull opted to cover them, with Perez coming in and Leclerc then opting to stay out.

No real drama, of course, as Perez looked to have pace to take the lead back once Leclerc came in but, before that could happen, a Safety Car was introduced after Nicholas Latifi had a meeting with the wall in his Williams.

Indeed, Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz could all pit under the slower conditions and get out before Perez – though the Mexican had to give his place up to Sainz after a Safety Car line infringement – and from there it was race ruined.

Perez will be disappointed, then, but he might take some consolation – if he is at all superstitious – from the fact that the last 6 first-time pole-sitters have not gone on to win the race:

This was the first pole of Perez’s career and he went on, of course, to not win so he’ll be hoping, the next time he takes P1, he’ll be able to convert it into victory.