Red Bull team chief Christian Horner hailed Sergio Perez on Sunday (29 May) after the Mexican driver claimed a thrilling victory in a rain and crash-hit Monaco Grand Prix.
Horner, whose team executed a near-perfect strategy to beat Ferrari in a breathless stop-start race praised, Perez for resisting pressure after crashing in qualifying on Saturday and saving his tyres in Sunday's race.
"It's a great team result," said Horner. "I'm so proud of him after yesterday. He's been on fire all weekend and I don't think we had the quickest car today. But, strategically, we got it right with the double pitstop and then it was all about teamwork."
In championship contention?
Perez's maiden Monaco win was his first this year and third of his career, lifting him into contention for the drivers' championship with 110 points, six behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and 15 adrift of series leader and Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, the defending champion.
Horner said the decision to go for medium tyres after a red flag stoppage following Mick Schumacher's big crash in his Haas was decisive.
"We didn't want to be exposed at the restart so we thought medium would be enough," he said.
Perez's car was repaired overnight after his qualifying crash and fitted with a new gearbox, but he showed no ill effect and raced with great determination to prove a point after being asked to obey team orders and hand victory to Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix.
"He was under pressure, but he managed it beautifully," said Horner.
Perez's three wins make him the most successful Mexican driver in Formula 1 history.
"It was an excellent result for 'Checo' and I am very happy for him," said Verstappen.