F1: Perez almost had to retire in Miami

A sensor problem on Sergio Perez’s internal combustion engine meant he could not mount a challenge on Carlos Sainz Jr. late in the Miami GP

After the race, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Autosport that a sensor problem was such that it was questionable whether or not the Mexican was going to make it to the checkered flag.

“It was very close,” said Horner about the risks of a DNF. “We had to move the sensors around to address the issue. So that’s something we will work closely with HRC [Honda’s engine division] on to try and understand and obviously make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.”

“He had an issue with a sensor on one of the cylinders,” added Horner. “The guys managed to move the sensors around, but he was down probably 20 kilowatts in power as a result.

“Even with the advantage of the new tire he had, he was probably half a second off what the car was capable of in straight line speed. And I think without that he would have probably even been P2.”

“I don’t think the car is particularly fragile,” he said. “I think there’s just been niggly things that you would have normally seen in pre-season testing but have only reared their head as we’ve got into the season,” he said.

“That’s been frustrating. But we’re working closely with Honda and they’re giving us great support. So I think we’ll get those ironed out.”