Tough time for Perez on way to fifth

Sergio Perez had to contend with a shoulder problem in qualifying that contributed to him lining his Red Bull up a disappointing eighth for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Having recovered by Sunday morning, the Mexican dispatched Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz Jr at the start to climb into sixth.

But Perez hit something of an impasse with the Mclaren of Daniel Ricciardo, who proved a tricky customer to clear despite the powerful effect of DRS.

Even through the first round of stops, the Australian remained ahead. Perez finally passed Ricciardo at the start of lap 46, cruising around the outside at Turn 1 to relegate him to sixth. Perez then had enough in reserve to lap faster than Ricciardo, cementing fifth place after the midfield runners all came in to make a second stop.

Red Bull’s fellow Hondapowered team, Alphatauri, endured a difficult race in which Pierre Gasly had to serve a five-second penalty for starting beyond his grid slot. Gasly had to recover from the back of the field following his first stop, but battled his way through the midfield and ended up on Ocon’s tail at the end, narrowly losing the chance to claim ninth place.

Yuki Tsunoda’s weekend was rather wretched. After his Q1 elimination, the Japanese rookie’s car shut down with a loss of fuel pressure after just six laps, stopping him at Turn 10 and bringing out the safety car.