Perez blames himself after qualifying: 'I screwed up Sector 1'

Throughout qualifying, it remained unclear who would run away with pole position. In the end, it was the three-time world champion, Max Verstappen. Both Ferrari men also looked like contenders for the first starting spot. Carlos Sainz came up just a little short, and Charles Leclerc ended his final fast lap early. Sergio Perez qualified in third place but was docked grid places due to a penalty.

Perez blames himself

Sergio Perez is just not entirely happy with third place. There was more in it, according to the Mexican. "I didn't get my full lap in place. I think I messed up a bit in sector one, and I think there was a little bit more in it. I think it's been a very tricky qualifying with the tyres, just getting the best out of them. Through the lap the requirements seem to be very different from sector to sector. I think overall, P2 was achievable today," Perez, incidentally, is not too worried about the race.

Like Verstappen, Perez indicates that it is not an easy weekend for the Red Bulls. ''I think we have been playing with where we started with the basic set-up and where we ended up. We have changed quite a lot. We are just looking for the balance and trying to reduce the relegation for tomorrow. We have done some things and we will see what we can do. Whether the things we did will affect the relegation tomorrow.''

The Mexican's third-place finish, incidentally, is still uncertain. Indeed, the stewards are investigating him for holding up Nico Hulkenberg during qualifying.