Welcome at RacingNews365

Become part of the largest racing community in the United Kingdom. Create your free account now!

  • Share your thoughts and opinions about F1
  • Win fantastic prizes
  • Get access to our premium content
  • Take advantage of more exclusive benefits
Sign in

Perez: I've got the advantage off the line

Red Bull's Sergio Perez reckons he has to capitalise on his soft tyre advantage off the grid at the start of the race.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez believes he has an inherent advantage for the first lap of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, starting from the front row on the soft tyre. The Mexican starts from second place, having just missed out on pole position after a stellar final run in Q3. With Perez starting the race on the soft tyre after using that tyre in Q2, he knows the pressure is on to utilise that advantage on the first lap. "We will fight off the line," Perez told Sky Sports F1. "We're definitely favourites with the soft for the start, off of the line, so if we are able to get a good launch." "It will be my first time with the Red Bull! I had to start from the pit lane last weekend out so it will be nice to start from the front row and if I get a good launch, I should be leading into Turn 1." Despite how well qualifying went for Perez, he admitted to not yet being fully comfortable with the RB16b as he enters his second race with the team. "I think I'm not there with the car, in terms of consistency," Perez continued. "What I mean is just the amount of time it takes me to get there, you know, I should be there already from first practice. But I'm not there in terms of consistency with the car. "I mean, yesterday [qualifying], or even in Bahrain, how far we were, it just shows the amount of work I've put into it. And, together with the team, they've helped me, they believed in me, and it's a great result, great boost of confidence, but we cannot get too carried over we know we have a lot of work ahead of us."

x
LATEST Stroll defended by fellow driver over Ricciardo crash