Sergio Perez overcame Red Bull team directives that denied him a chance to battle for the win a week ago to win his first Formula One race of the season in rain-soaked Monaco.

After a controversial strategy choice by Ferrari deprived pole-sitter Charles Leclerc a win on his home circuit, Perez won his third career Formula One race on the slick city streets of Monaco.

Despite the fact that Leclerc finished the race for the first time in four attempts, he finished fourth, allowing reigning world champion Max Verstappen to expand his points lead. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz came in second, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen came in third.

Verstappen now has a nine-point lead over Leclerc in the standings; Leclerc has two wins this season, Verstappen and Perez have a combined five wins, and Red Bull and Ferrari have won all seven races.

However, the victory went to Verstappen’s teammate just one week after Perez was ordered to give up the lead during the Spanish Grand Prix to Verstappen. With Leclerc out of the race due to engine failure, Red Bull decided to take advantage of the situation by rigging the finish to give Verstappen the victory in Spain.

Perez was assured that he would be able to race for wins, and the team kept its word on Sunday.

“You dream of winning this, and there is no place more special to win after your home race,” Perez remarked after waving the Mexican flag.