Perez wary Red Bull ‘owed’ performance after Qatar podium loss

Sergio Perez is wary that he “owes” Red Bull a big performance in this weekend’s Abu Dhabi season finale, following a disappointing Qatar Grand Prix. 

The Red Bull driver’s future has been speculated after retiring at the Lusail International Circuit, with some reporting that this weekend could be Perez’s last with the team. 

Perez struggled for outright pace in Qatar and was eliminated in SQ1, before finishing last in the sprint race. 

However, he did progress to Q3 in qualifying, before a bizarre spin caused him to retire from the penultimate grand prix of the year.

Had it not been for the retirement, Perez believes he was capable of finishing on the podium, which featured team-mate Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.

Perez is confident that progress has been made in recent rounds, but now wants to make up for the recent disappointment experienced in Qatar.

After what has been a turbulent season for the Mexican driver, he is eager to conclude 2024 on a high.

“Heading to Abu Dhabi, it’s important to me to have a very strong final race of the season,” said Perez. “I owe the team and myself a solid, all round performance across the weekend. 

“We have been seeing improvements week on week recently and the pace has been there, now we need to put it together. Everything was going so well in Qatar and the podium was in our sights.

“It’s frustrating for everyone that we couldn’t convert that positive position in the race into something more. 

“The aim in Abu Dhabi will be to make up for that disappointment. It has been a very up and down season for me and I will be giving everything I have to end it on a high.”