Perez sees Red Bull not scoring points: 'This is a bit of a blow'

Sergio Perez was fighting with Carlos Sainz for the last podium spot throughout the race. It didn't seem to work out, but after Max Verstappen dropped out, the veteran was suddenly in third place after all. It didn't last long, as Perez too eventually stalled with the RB18 at Turn 1.

In the end it was not Perez but Lewis Hamilton who took fifteen World CChampionship points. The Red Bull Racing driver had to deal with what appeared to be the same problem as his Dutch teammate Verstappen.

Perez speaks of a blow

"It's really disappointing when something like this happens. This is a bit of a blow, but this is racing. It's hard to digest, we had the podium in the pocket. But as a team it was a tough race. It's the first race of the season, it's important to have the points in the pocket," Perez told Viaplay.

Red Bull hopes to have clarity as early as Sunday evening on what exactly caused the two DNFs. Ahead of next week's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, the Austrian racing stable will certainly want everything resolved.