Sergio Perez would not have wanted to let Max Verstappen pass by in Barcelona.
Red Bull F1 driver Sergio Perez was frustrated on Sunday after being subjected to a team order twice in the Spanish GP.
Mexican drivers were advised to let a teammate Max Verstappen before. Perez already expressed during the race that he was not happy with the solution.
– It’s really unfair, but ok, he replied on the team radio.
Perez passed Verstappen for the first time in the early stages of the race. Verstappen was originally ahead of his teammate, but spun around and lost his place.
At the same time, Perez could not get in front of him George Russellin past. The Mexican slacker asked for another round of time to try, but it was not given.
– Let Max try. We’ll pay this back later, race engineer Hugh Bird I promised.
Sergio Perez demanded that Red Bull discuss the team order. AOP
The next situation came towards the end of the race when Verstappen had to change his three-stop strategy due to a problem with the rear wing. After a third depot stop, the Dutch driver quickly caught Perez, who changed tires twice.
Mexican drivers were again asked to make way.
Verstappen eventually drove the race to victory. Perez was second.
Perez announced on team radio after the checkered flag that he wanted to talk to his team.
– I was told I’d get the seat back. I think I could have passed Max and George earlier. So I could have tried to make the two-stop strategy work, he said after the race Racefansille.
– Maybe that wouldn’t have been enough.
Perez also wondered why the three-stop tactic was not immediately adopted for him.
– It worked for Max. If I had done the same, I would have won the race.
Perez finally made a third depot stop. It was worth it, as he got the fastest lap in his name.
The Mexican driver still wants to talk to Red Bull more.
– We need to talk about things internally. I’m not worried about anything. The atmosphere in the stable is awesome. I am satisfied with that.
Right decision
The Red Bulls fought each other on the track. AOP
Red Bull team manager Christian Horner emphasized after the race that a team order was necessary.
– It is our responsibility to bring two cars to the checkered flag as high as possible, and of course Checo could not see it at that moment. Max had a clear tire advantage, and it made no sense to take any risk with a damaged DRS wing as car temperatures fluctuated up and down, Horner explained.
– It was definitely the right decision.
Horner believed Perez’s frustration was due to the driver not understanding the overall picture of the race.
– If the driver does not have a clear picture of the strategy of the whole race, it is always emotional to hand over the lead. Perez played for the team.
Thanks to the victory, Verstappen rose to the top of the drivers’ World Series. The season continues next weekend in Monaco.