Perez on missed opportunity: 'With that strategy I could have pushed more'

Sergio Perez made it exciting in the final stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but in the end Charles Leclerc stayed just ahead of him. Nevertheless, Perez looks back on his most successful Formula 1 season to date with satisfaction.

"It was super close," he told Viaplay of the closing stages of the race, in which he chased Leclerc. "We just didn't manage to get everything together in the race, we finished 1.3 behind. Probably we could have done a little bit more, but it's how racing goes. I think that middle stint really wasn't ideal."

In retrospect, Perez thinks he could have been less careful with his tyres than the team told him and that he might have been able to have attacked more. "I was told to manage more than I actually needed, given that we were on the two-stop," the Mexican explained. "With those two hards, I think we could have pushed more."

Moreover, the strategy Red Bull Racing had chosen for Max Verstappen did not make things easier, according to Perez. In the end, though, that proved to be the more successful strategy, which also benefited Charles Leclerc. Ferrari put the Monegasque on the correct strategy this time, where the team missed the mark on several occasions earlier this year.

Despite missing out on a second place in the final standings, Perez looks back on a successful year at Red Bull with satisfaction. "We gave it our all and we are pleased with that. Now it's time to regroup and come back strong next year," Perez said.