Perez was running in 🐬fourth when Lewis Hamilton made his way up behind him having started 🐠the race from 11th on the grid.

Hamilton attempted to overtake Perez at Turn 12, with the pair going side-by-side through the next seque🌊nce of co📖rners.

Peꦛrez was once again braver on the brakes into Turn 1, maintaining track position over Hamilton.

The bat𒀰tle proved to b⛄e crucial in the outcome of the race as Hamilton wasn’t able to get past Perez.

As a result, he dec🐟ided to remain out on his worn intermediates while Red Bull pit Perez or fresh rubber, ensuring he’d remain ahead when Hamilton stopped💙 or overtake him on track if he didn't.

“It was pretty intense at that point because Lewis really got me at the worst time of my race today because I was struggling so m🍸uch with my tyres at that point,” Perez said. “That first stint was so difficult for me, especially towards the end and Lewis was pretty fast. I think at the time he was the fastest car on track, so to hold him back at that point was pretty challenging.

“We had 🌱a good fight. Had to even avoid the pit bollard on pit entry, but it was a good fight overall, and managed to stay ahead.”

Red Bull team 𒁃principal Christian Horner praised Perez for his robust defence, likening to how Max Verstappen would defend against the seven-time ♛world champion.

“He raced Lewis just as hard as Max does, Horner added. “You can see they are going wheel-to-wheel and he actually ended up in the pitlane, he was the other side of the bollard,🅘 Lewis had run him out there and then it’s a drag race down the start-finish straight, and he just stuck with it and made it stick, so a great move by him.”

With the title on the line, Hami⛎lton admitted that he was trying to find a balance when risking overtakes in Turkey, in particular with Yuki Tsunoda.

"With everyone 🐭that I come across it’s trying to find a balance,” Ham🤡ilton explained. “There was a point I just couldn’t get close enough with him [Tsunoda], then I did, but having to give everyone a lot of space and room as they’re not fighting for the same thing I’m fighting for. “I try and be respectful, give a lot of space, and so far kept out of trouble.”