3. SERGIO PEREZ
I knew that the podium was possible, but we really
had to work hard for it. The key to my race was
the great start I made to get around a Williams
[Massa] and a Toro Rosso [Kvyat]. Then, in
the first stint I was suffering with graining of my
supsersoft tyres and we had to decide whether
to wait for it to improve or to make an early stop.
In the end, we stayed out longer, which was the
right decision, but when I came out of the pits
I struggled to warm-up the soft tyres and I was
under big pressure from Lewis [Hamilton] behind.
I pushed as hard as I could and opened up a gap,
and then I focussed on looking after my tyres. I
closed in on Kimi [Raikkonen] and I knew he had a
penalty, but on the final lap I got very close to him
and saw the opportunity to overtake him, so I took
it. To be on the podium for a second time this year
feels fantastic. The team has done a brilliant job
and we are having an amazing year.