Perez recovered from a woeful qualifying for the Las Vegas GP podium
Perez started in P11 following the 10-place grid penalty Carlos Sainz received for requiring a new battery after damage from a water valve cover in FP1. Yet having to pit early ultimately played into Perez’s advantage as a later safety car period moved him into the fight for a win.
Ferrari not stopping Leclerc at the later safety car also handed the Red Bull pair of Perez and Max Verstappen a tyre advantage. They made light work of overtaking the Monegasque for the lead of the Las Vegas GP. Although Leclerc was able to recover and stayed behind Perez
An early virtual safety car period saw Red Bull put Perez on a different strategy after contact into Turn 1. The 33-year-old required a new front wing after making contact with the rear of Valtteri Bottas’ Alfa Romeo. It was a domino effect of Fernando Alonso spinning at the start.