Perez warns Red Bull in title fight: This can't happen again!

Sergio Perez says the problems that afflicted him during the Australian Grand Prix weekend must never happen again, as he bids to overhaul teammate Max Verstappen in the Drivers' Championship.

Perez won both the Sprint and Grand Prix in Azerbaijan last weekend to move within six points of Verstappen at the top of the points standings.

However, the Mexican would likely have an even bigger points haul had he not suffered brake issues at Melbourne, when he beached his car in the gravel during qualifying and had to start the race from the back of the grid, ultimately salvaging fifth place by the chequered flag.

The Australian Grand Prix was the only race of 2023 so far in which the Red Bulls have not finished first and second, and with Verstappen and Perez having taken two wins each, the Mexican said he was confident of a title tilt this year.

"It's a long year ahead. I really believe that we are in the fight. Without the problems we had in qualifying at Melbourne, we would be a lot closer," the Mexican told media, including RacingNews365.com.

"So it's important not to have those problems ever again and to minimise the problems, because at the end of the day, it's very important to make sure that whenever we cannot win, [we] finish second and it's still a good day."