Concerns at Red Bull: Perez's hydraulic pressure "reached critical levels"

Red Bull Racing achieved an excellent result at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix despite Max Verstappen's retirement. Sergio Pérez finished first and Mercedes failed to score any points. Yet it could have ended very differently for the Austrian racing team.

For Red Bull, it was good the race didn't last much longer. Once across the line, Perez was told to stop the car and he do so on the pit exit. "For Red Bull, there was the concern of Perez’s gradually decreasing hydraulic pressure which was reaching critical levels towards the end of the race," said journalist Mark Hughes in his analysis on The Race.

In fact, Pérez was given instructions not to overload the car. "The team even started the car up at the last possible moment before that wild two-lap mini-race at the end, so as to conserve what little pressure was in there. It even told him not to weave on the warm-up lap as the power steering might have drained that vital last bit of pressure that was keeping the car alive."

First victory for Pérez

It was a welcome victory for Pérez, who had to deal with a lot of pressure from the national and international press in recent weeks. The Mexican's performance has been mixed so far, but in Azerbaijan, he showed that he still has qualities.