Third-starting Perez had the worst begin out of the frontrunners as he noticed Mercedes’ George Russell pull alongside the within into Flip 1 at Interlagos.
He was then additionally handed by the second Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, who pulled off a late transfer across the outdoors into Flip 4.
However Perez was quickly in a position to cross each Mercedes automobiles to reclaim third by lap 10 of the 24-lap dash, which he stored till the end.
Perez felt the time he misplaced in the beginning prevented him from having a go at McLaren’s Norris in second, as he needed to ask an excessive amount of of his smooth tyres to cross Hamilton.
“Yeah, it was not a straightforward one, I had a horrible begin, ended up dropping place to George. After which one other place to Lewis into Flip 4,” stated Perez, who crossed the road 9 seconds behind Norris and one other 4 seconds behind his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen, who won at a canter.
“From then on, I used to be combating. I had to make use of my tyres quite a bit. After which I feel I paid the worth in direction of the top.
“General, it has been day. Good factors there. However sadly, I feel with out the beginning we may have been quite a bit additional up.
“The issue I had was that I could not handle. I needed to push. And we all know that this place may be very delicate for that. It ended up costing us.”
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing RB19
Hamilton crossed the road in seventh after struggling together with his tyres, which meant Perez was in a position to rating his rival for second within the championship by 4 factors, extending his hole to 24 factors.
With Hamilton beginning Sunday’s grand prix in fifth and Perez in ninth, the Mexican has his work reduce out to maintain that lead intact.
“Clearly, it is vital,” Perez stated about rising his benefit. “Nevertheless it’s extra vital to maintain that momentum going now, we had an excellent day total.
“Hopefully tomorrow, which is the primary race, we are able to consolidate with a robust outcome.”