Sergio Perez managed to qualify only in 7th place (but will be starting from P6 following Lando Norris’ three-place grid penalty) for the Azerbaijan GP, after Q3 was cut short following a red flag. Not quite what he was expecting, given the pace the Mexican showed so far this weekend.

“Today was a big shame as we’ve shown all weekend we have very good pace but today we didn’t put the lap together when it really mattered. There was so much more on offer and we obviously expected more but it is what it is.” he said.

He has shown that in all three practice sessions as well, climbing up from P4 in FP1 to set the fastest time in FP2 with a 1'42"115, closing off this morning’s session in second place right behind a flying Pierre Gasly.

“On my first Q3 run I locked up into Turn 4 and then I was chasing the time for the rest of the lap. On my second run, I was on for a great lap and then the red flag came out for Yuki and Carlos and that was that.”

As it put an early end to a qualifying session packed with red flags, right from the start with Lance Stroll and Antonio Giovinazzi both crashing at turn 15 only minutes away from each other causing the first of four stops.

“I don’t remember there being so many red flags in a session but tomorrow is when it counts and anything can happen around this track.”

Certainly overtakes in Baku are more likely to take place than in the streets of Monte Carlo and the Red Bull driver is confident he will have the chance to do better in tomorrow’s race.

"I think there are lots of positives to be taken so far from this weekend, the pace every single session has been there and we’ve shown good progression so we can be pleased with that.Tomorrow is a long race and there is plenty to play for so we need to get our heads down and make sure we deliver. I think we have a very strong car underneath us so a podium has to be the target.”