Sergio Perez is expecting Red Bull to review the early undercut that allowed team-mate Max Verstappen to take control of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Starting sixth, Perez had gambled on stopping for Intermediates on the opening lap, allowing him to jump ahead of those who delayed making the trip to the pits as the rain began to fall.
Although Verstappen missed the first opportunity to fit the Intermediate rubber, he was able to erode Perez’s advantage and at one stage, took 4.2s out of the Mexican’s lead in one lap.
Verstappen was given preference by Red Bull at the switch back to slicks allowing him to comfortably undercut Perez, who was left questioning the decision from his team.
“I think in those scenarios the team just have more information than we do at the time,” Perez said after the race. “Something we obviously will review during the meeting. I’m sure there’s a reason behind it.”
The Mexican said that he was expecting more rain to fall, with the incorrect information contributing to his forfeiting of the lead.
“We were expecting rain, the team was telling me there was more rain coming. The track was on the dry side, so if I were to push, I would’ve just destroyed completely the intermediate tyre,” he continued.
“They [pit crew] were super quick [at the first stop] so, well done for the team on that. Unfortunately, we didn’t get right that there was more rain coming on the intermediates, otherwise we could have pushed more on that first stint, [and] probably keep the lead for longer.”
Perez crossed the line third but was demoted to fourth after being awarded a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pitlane, dropping him behind Pierre Gasly and off the podium.
“It was chaos, [with the weather] changing a lot, and unfortunately a great call in the beginning turned out to be not so great in the end. It’s a shame that we ended up losing the podium because I feel like we really deserved it today,” he added.
Perez was acceptant of the podium-costing penalty, having aquaplaned his way into the pitlane, which resulted in him making contact with the wall in the pit lane.
“I was coming into the pits, it was completely flooded at the time, and when I braked I just went straight into the wall,” he explained.
“The rule is the rule. I think that’s the best way it can really protect everyone.”
Fourth place in the Dutch Grand Prix brings Perez’s points tally to 201, some 138 behind team-mate Verstappen.
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