Team boss Christian Horner has revealed that Sergio Pérez, in his role as Max Verstappen’s wingman at Red Bull, should under no circumstances rely on getting help from the Dutchman – especially not when it comes to a possible race victory in Formula 1 .
Formula 1 is a tough (results) sport. And although there are ten teams, each with two drivers wearing the same suit, there is also high competition within the individual racing teams. Although there is (usually) consensus that teammates don’t go too hard on each other in direct duels on the track in order to avoid costly accidents, mutual gifts are rarely or never given.
Sergio Pérez, who has mostly been used as a wingman at Red Bull over the last three years, cannot hope for help from F1 dominator Max Verstappen, even though the Mexican did a maneuver against his competitor Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes.) at the end of 2021, in Verstappen’s first title year ) contributed significantly to the Dutchman getting closer to Hamilton and later being able to celebrate his debut title.
Is Verstappen, who is currently winning Grand Prix after Grand Prix seemingly effortlessly, taking revenge by handing victory to the faltering Pérez in the last two races?
Absolutely not, says team boss Christian Horner. “The chances of that happening are between zero and one, I would say,” explained Horner in response to a question on “Sky Sports” after the Brazilian GP, which Pérez finished fourth, while Verstappen scored his 17th win of the season celebrated.
“I don’t think Checo will need this help at all,” added Horner, despite the Mexican’s current weak phase.
Horner: Verstappen wants to continue winning in Formula 1
Meanwhile, Verstappen is “doing his thing”; the three-time world champion wants to use every opportunity for success. “He’s focused on the incredible year he’s had and he just wants to keep winning,” said the team boss.
Pérez, on the other hand, “shouldn’t actually need Max’s help,” emphasized Horner. The Brazilian GP showed that the 33-year-old can also drive well himself, in which Pérez drove from ninth place on the grid to the aforementioned fourth place.
Corresponding noble gestures, where one teammate (voluntarily) gave victory to the other, are extremely rare in Formula 1. The most impressive of this kind took place in 1991. At that time, F1 legend Ayrton Senna, who had recently become world champion early, left his McLaren colleague Gerhard Berger in first place in the final meters in Japan.