Perez expected higher: 'I paid the price for that at the end'

Sergio Perez recorded a fine result in the sprint race for the Brazilian Grand Prix by crossing the finishing line in third place. Still, the Red Bull Racing driver thinks there could have been more in it had he got away better at the start.

"It was not an easy one. I had a terrible start, ended up losing a place to George, and then another place to Lewis into Turn Four," Perez said after the sprint race at Interlagos. "From then on I was fighting, had to use all of my tyres, and paid the price towards the end."

"Overall it has been a good day, good points there. Unfortunately without the start I think we could have been further up," he added. With his third-place finish, the Mexican extended his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the championship to 25 points, an important result with three races to go.

"Obviously it's important but it's more important to keep the momentum going now. We had a very good day overall and hopefully tomorrow, which is the main race, we can consolidate on a strong result," Perez explained