During the rain-affected sprint race, Perez’s aggressive defence forced Verstappen onto the grass at the start, but the reigning World Champion swiftly reclaimed the lead with a bold pass into Turn 4. The following day, Verstappen’s pitstop on the penultimate lap for a set of soft tires saw him rejoin the track just seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in second place, securing the fastest lap point and completing another flawless weekend for Red Bull.
Despite the team’s dominant start to the season, Newey urged caution, citing Verstappen and Perez’s near-miss as a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong in Formula 1. He emphasized the need to stay focused and keep pushing forward, as other teams continue to develop their cars.
