Sergio Perez has described his first front-row result since 2023 Miami Grand Prix as “nice progress”, after he finished second in Qualifying for 2024 Japanese GP.
Perez finished second in a Red Bull one-two finish in FP3 and Qualifying at Suzuka, with the Mexican having fell 0.066 seconds short of Max Verstappen’s pole time but has earned his first front row start on merit in 20 races since he took pole in Miami last year.
Perez though benefitted from a grid penalty for Verstappen in Belgium to get on the front row during that run.
Reflective of where he lost time, Perez put his failure to claim a first pole position since Miami down to the start of his lap, as he commented: “Unfortunately, in the end we couldn’t get totally hooked in for the final lap, I didn’t get a nice exit into my lap and that was probably enough to miss pole today.
“I think generally we are a lot better placed with the car, if you remember last year here, we were seven tenths off Max and it was probably the hardest circuit in terms of balance, this season things are looking a lot different and the confidence is coming back.”
Perez also was pleased to get close to Verstappen and is looking to fight for the win as he added: “Max and I have been on par all weekend, I think we will be close tomorrow and we have everything to fight for.”
Verstappen welcomed Perez’s result which he hopes will mean “a perfect start to the race tomorrow, but I expect it to be very competitive.”
Team Principal, Christian Horner meanwhile described Perez’s final lap as his “finest performance in qualifying here, furthering his previous best of P4.”
Horner though iterated that there are still some aspects “to improve on” but believes that “the race will be a little closer but today puts us in a great position to race well as we look to carry this pace into Sunday.”
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