A strong start to 2022 continued for Sergio Perez as he finished P2 to his teammate Max Verstappen in the Spanish Grand Prix. The reigning World Champion took the lead in controversial circumstances as Red Bull issued team orders to the Mexican, who was on 6-lap older rubber.

The fastest lap point as well as the eighteen for second leaves him just 25 points off the championship lead with six events gone. 

Following the retirement of Charles Leclerc from the lead, Perez was then thrust into the fight for victory with Russell and Verstappen.

He overtook Russell for the lead on lap 31 but would ultimately lose out to Max Verstappen for the win when the Dutchman prevailed on a three-stopper versus his two.

“It’s a difficult one to digest but it turned out to be that the three-stop was the better strategy,” Checo told the media post-race.

The 32-year-old stated that he didn’t have the optimal strategy due to the fact he was told to hold position behind Verstappen after the first round of stops as the Dutchman tried to pass Russell.

According to Perez, he was also told he would be given the place back in that second stint because he had left Verstappen through following the 2021 World Champion’s spin on lap nine.

“I think I didn’t have a very optimised two-stop as well.

“I wanted to understand because I felt when I was on the two-stop, I could have gone through [Verstappen and Russell] them a bit quicker and probably optimised more my strategy, which I spent a couple of laps behind [them].

“They asked me to give the position first to Max. I was supposed to get it back later... which I didn’t, going into the second stint.”

Perez fully believes he’ll be allowed to fight his teammate and go for wins throughout the season despite letting him through twice today.

“No, I’m definitely here to win and I think if I was on the three-stop, I should have won the race.

“I mean I have to be happy with a 1-2 for the team. Obviously I want to win but I was on the worse strategy today.”

Perez denied he was feeling bittersweet about the result but said he’ll be having discussions with Red Bull to make sure things are clearer in the future.

“We are leading the Constructors' Championship. Although I want to win I have to be realistic and happy with the team result.

“But I need some clarifications from my team going forward.”

Very happy to finally be on the Spanish podium.
Thanks to all the fans for so much love; awesome result for the whole team. Now full focus for the Monaco GP.#nevergiveup #spanishgp pic.twitter.com/sR7G7IYKaN

— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez) May 22, 2022