Polesitter Verstappen reported a stuck brake at the start of the Melbourne race, leading to his loss of the lead to Sainz on lap 2 and ultimately forcing his retirement on lap 4 due to a right rear brake failure.
Despite Verstappen’s issues, Perez remarked that Ferrari’s strong race performance, particularly in managing front tire graining, would likely have secured them victory regardless.
Perez attributed their struggles to pace throughout the weekend, noting difficulties in managing tire wear, especially on circuits like Albert Park that place more stress on the front tires. He finished fifth in the race after starting sixth, hindered by a three-place grid penalty for impeding in qualifying.
Perez faced challenges in overtaking George Russell’s Mercedes early in the race, which affected his tire management strategy. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t make significant progress and fell behind fourth-placed Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in the final stint.
Reflecting on the weekend, Perez expressed disappointment with their performance and acknowledged the need for improvement in future races.