Mika Hakkinen believes Mercedes have leapfrogged Red Bull in terms of performance following the Turkish Grand Prix. Valtteri Bottas took the chequered flag from pole position, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finishing second and third to bring home a double podium for Red Bull. However, with Verstappen himself admitting that Mercedes were quicker over the course of the weekend , Hakkinen says its obvious the Silver Arrows have the faster package at this time. "What is clear from the weekend is that the Mercedes car has moved ahead of the Red Bull in terms of performance," Hakkinen wrote in his column for Unibet. "Lewis and Valtteri were quickest in qualifying, and Max is admitting that Red Bull have some work to do if they are to win this World Championship." Despite the pace deficit, a positive development for Red Bull was the improved performance of Sergio Perez. The Mexican finished on the podium for the first time since the French Grand Prix, with Hakkinen noting that his tyre management skills helped him navigate the tricky conditions at Istanbul Park. "One strong point for Red Bull on Sunday was the performance of Sergio Perez who drove a strong race, protected Max and finished third," he added. "I thought his battle with Lewis was excellent, showing great confidence and maturity from a driver who we know is very good at tyre management. "Sergio has had some difficult races recently, so this was a great performance and good timing for the team."
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