WATCH: Sergio Perez gets overtaken by Williams’ Franco Colapinto in the pit lane

Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez had a disappointing start for the Sprint race at Lusail International Circuit. The Mexican racer was overtaken by Williams F1's Franco Colapinto before the former had even exited the pit lane during the start of the race.

Perez's troubles continued since the start of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend. The #11 Red Bull driver was unable to find the optimal balance during the first and only Practice session (FP1) of the weekend. Unlike his teammate Verstappen who was 11th in FP1, Sergio Perez finished 18th.

The string of bad luck continued for the Guadalajara-born racer, who exited Sprint Qualifying in the first session (SQ1). Adding to his woes was the penalty applied for suspension changes to his RB20 race car, thereby requiring Perez to start from the pit lane, along with Colapinto (the penalty for suspension change as well).

As the Sprint Race was green-flagged, Perez patiently waited for the rest of the field to make the start before entering the racetrack. However, in an unexpected move, Colapinto immediately overtook Perez even before the duo had cleared the barrier for the pitlane, albeit after crossing the pit lane limit line, pushing the Red Bull driver to last place on the grid.

A video of Colapinto's move on Sergio Perez in the pitlane was shared on X by Sky Sports' F1 page. Here's a look at the post, captioned:

"Franco Colapinto claiming an early place in the pits over Sergio Perez"

As a result, Checo (Perez) eventually finished the Sprint Race in 20th place, while Colapinto ended the race in 18th position, ahead of Sauber's Zhou Guanyu.

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"We had a lot more potential and it’s a shame that we just ended up here," Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez reflects on his early exit from the Sprint Qualifying in Qatar

Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing during the Sprint - Source: Getty

Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez ended 15th in the Sprint Qualifying session. The 34-year-old Mexican racer reflected on his dismal performance during the mandatory post-qualifying media interaction.

"We left a little bit late. We had an issue with one of the anti-roll bars and then to get my final lap, we were all opening gaps and then Charles (Leclerc) came. We were fighting into Turn 1 and so on, and lost a couple of tenths there, enough to be knocked out unfortunately," Perez explained the situation.

"It was a shame because I felt like we really progressed with the car from (F)P1 to Qualifying. We had a lot more potential and it’s a shame that we just ended up here," he added.

With just two races remaining in the 2024 season, Perez is placed eighth in the driver's championship, while his teammate Max Verstappen has managed to secure the driver's title for the year, making it a fourth-in-a-row for the Dutchman.