“Sergio Perez holding Charles Leclerc in Imola was no small feat”- Here’s why Red Bull’s recent upgrades make them favorites to win the Miami GP

Sergio Perez will be receiving a new upgrade ahead of the Miami GP which bolsters his and Red Bull’s chances this weekend.

Summing up Red Bull’s season so far is difficult. In terms of pace, they match the Ferraris but are lacking behind in reliability. Max Verstappen suffered two heartbreaking DNFs in Bahrain and Australia, which cost him a huge number of points.

However, after Melbourne’s disappointment, the Dutchman and his team bounced back emphatically in Imola. Verstappen qualified on pole and dominated the race from start to finish.

His teammate Perez too, put in one of his best performances in Red Bull till date. He managed to jump Leclerc at the start, and held his position ever since.

According to Corriere, Verstappen came into Imola with an upgrade which made his car lighter by around 4kgs. This gave the 24-year some unprecedented advantage, and it’s no surprise we saw him dominate the Ferraris.

The fact that Perez almost matched his teammate and held off Leclerc throughout the race has also earned him plaudits.

Also read: “Take the DRS off” – Sebastian Vettel does not want the F1 to rely on DRS usage for overtaking

F1 fans hail Sergio Perez for his outstanding Imola performance

Coming into the race in Imola, several people expected a tight battle between the Ferraris and the Red Bulls. However, it turned out to be quite the opposite. It was a nightmare weekend for the Italian outfit with Carlos Sainz’s race ending on lap 1 and Leclerc finishing on sixth.

Perez and Verstappen meanwhile, earned a comfortable 1-2 finish, making it Red Bull’s first since 2016. The latter got upgrades in Imola, whereas Perez is set to have his RB18 lose weight ahead of the Miami GP.

this just goes to show how underrated peres is. to hold charles back like that in imola was no small feat https://t.co/8MOX4XMqsD

— afo🇳🇬 (@afoknowswheel) May 3, 2022

Corriere reports that the Mexican will receive the same upgrade his teammate did this weekend. The reason for him getting it late was because of the lack of production time.

Yet perez was keeping leclerc in his pocket 💀

— Honest Lewis Hamilton fan #LH44 (@MxthZs) May 3, 2022

When fans got to know about Perez’s stunning performance came without any upgrades to his car, they hailed him. Many expect the Guadalajara born drive to carry over his good form into the Miami GP this weekend.

Also read: “Formula 1, what is that?”- F1 journalist reveals how immigration at Miami Airport had no idea what Formula 1 is

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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