Mexican racing driver Sergio Perez put on a spectacular show to help Red Bull dominate bitter rival Ferrari in the Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday in Imola, Italy.
The 32-year-old Perez, who is coming off a lackluster start in the season’s opener, finished second behind eventual champion and Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. It was the first one-two finish for Red Bull since Malaysia in 2016.
Perez battled Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc all throughout the race. Leclerc pushed the pedal into the metal to come pit road ahead of Perez, but the latter managed to squeeze inside thanks to a rare mistake by the former to secure the second spot.
“It was really intense. I was fighting him pretty much halfway through the race. We were fighting, but it was all under control. They started chasing us with the stop, and then, it was again, you know, a fight, trying to warm up the tires,” Perez narrated.
With the second-place finish, Perez jumps to the third spot in the World Drivers’ Championship standings with 54 points behind teammate and second placer Verstappen, who holds 59 points.