Sergio Perez has admitted that Red Bull’s record-breaking winning streak of 15 races is “definitely over”, after the Mexican and Max Verstappen were both embarrassingly eliminated in Q2 at the Singapore Grand Prix.
It’s been a weekend to forget for Red Bull at the Marina Bay Circuit, with both drivers having endured shocking free practice sessions ahead of qualifying.
Free Practice 3 saw Verstappen and Perez still very unhappy with the RB19, to the extent that the reigning World Champion even went off the circuit at Turn 14.
Red Bull continued to make changes all the way up to the start of qualifying, to try and find some performance in the car.
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They failed to unlock the RB19’s usually unstoppable pace, with Verstappen qualifying 11th with Perez in P13.
Embarrassingly for the Milton Keynes-based side, Verstappen was knocked out of qualifying by AlphaTauri stand-in Liam Lawson, who has performed exceptionally.
Perez’s session was arguably worse than Verstappen’s, with the 33-year-old having spun at Turn 3 on his final hot lap in Q2.
The Mexican admitted after qualifying that the session was “very difficult” but that he thinks “Q3 was possible” if it wasn’t for his spin, which was caused by an engine issue.
“It was very difficult,” Perez told Sky Sports F1.
“It’s been it’s been tough because we’ve been making a few changes here and there, but nothing seems to transform the balance.
“And then it just made it worse the fact that I could not give in my final attempt in Q2, massive under-delivery from the engine and then it kicked really hard.
“I ended up losing the car. It’s a massive shame. I think Q3 was possible.”
If Red Bull want to extend their winning streak to 16 races, then they’ll require the race of their lives, something which just doesn’t look on the cards.
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Perez has openly admitted that the Austrians don’t stand a chance of winning and has accepted that their winning streak is over, with the Red Bull driver simply targeting a “few points”.
“Yeah, definitely,” Perez admitted, when asked if the team’s winning streak is over.
“I think if we are able to score a few points, I will be pleased with that.”