SAKHIR, Bahrain – It took him 190 starts, but Sergio Perez is finally a Grand Prix winner in Formula One competition. Russell would dominated most of the race from there, only briefly giving up the lead to Bottas during a round of pit stops midway through the event. The Mercedes team made a late call to bring both Russell and Bottas into the pits for a tire change. With the misfortune of Russell and Bottas, Perez suddenly found himself elevated into the race lead. He’d raced his way from the back to third behind the Mercedes duo, but when the Mercedes cars stumbled Perez was suddenly in the lead. Russell finished ninth, earning his first points finish in Formula One competition. “I’ve had races where I’ve had victories taken away from me, but twice?

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