Sergio Perez says Red Bull opted to "play it safe" in the Qatar Grand Prix following Valtteri Bottas' tyre failure and to pit him a second time, but the move cost the Mexican his sixth podium of the year. Perez was battling Bottas for third as the race reached its halfway point, having already undertaken a pit stop while the Mercedes driver was running an extended first stint on the medium tyre. But the Finn's prolonged 32-lap run ended abruptly with a sudden puncture that sent Bottas into the pits and dwindling down the order. The Red Bull pitwall took stock of the event and eventually deemed it a warning sign that compelled it to bring in Perez a second time. "Our problem...
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