Sergio Perez: Team had to work "harder than you may think" for P3

Sergio Perez will start Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix from third place and will support pole-sitter Max Verstappen against Red Bull's Mercedes rivals. The Mexican says the team had to work hard to make the gains.

"It's been a hard weekend up to now. We've been chasing a lot of balance. Just exploring the cars. It didn't come easy, very hard work. Harder than you may think. In the end, we got a good lap and a good starting position for tomorrow," Perez said.

With Mercedes starting behind Perez, Red Bull Racing are favourites to take a tighter grip on the world championship following the Austrian Grand Prix. Perez will have to negotiate McLaren driver Lando Norris who starts on the front-row, though the Mexican isn't concerned by this.

"I believe we have a better race car than qualifying," Perez added.