via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – August 28, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Belgian Grand Prix as Red Bull’s Sergio Perez celebrates after placing second REUTERS/Johanna Geron
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – August 28, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Belgian Grand Prix as Red Bull’s Sergio Perez celebrates after placing second REUTERS/Johanna Geron
Sergio Perez led the runners-up spot in the drivers’ standings ahead of Charles Leclerc before the Brazilian GP. As the race progressed, the Mexican was overtaken by Leclerc and lost the 2nd spot in the standings. Red Bull, in its bid for damage control, told Perez to let Max Verstappen pass so he could fight Leclerc and steal as many points as he could. However, when he failed to do so, he refused to give Checo the place back.
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Not only did Max pose no challenge to Leclerc’s pace, but he also couldn’t overtake Fernando Alonso, who was behind Leclerc. His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, asked him to give the place back to his teammate if he couldn’t pass Alonso. Not only did the Dutchman not follow the team’s orders, but he also responded with an angry message.
He said, “I told you already last time, guys. Don’t ask that again to me, okay? Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons, and I stand by it.”
The response did not go down well with the fans. Have a look at some reactions from Twitter.
Honestly after hearing that radio from max, it confirms that he is indeed the biggest prick on the grid 🤧 https://t.co/o82lzzwXjO
— Elliot🏴 (@elliotbarton) November 13, 2022
Lol dude's hanging on a whole stolen championship and they expect him to give a position back?? 🤣 https://t.co/MpGNAO0sL2
— Sir Lewis Updates (@LH44updates) November 13, 2022
Sergio Perez played the ultimate team game in helping Max Verstappen win his first title at Abu Dhabi. What happened today will certainly not please him.
Verstappen radio shows he was asked again on the last lap to let Perez through. Replies that he told the team he wouldn't previously:
"Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons, and I stuck by it."
That is not going to go down well with Perez #F1 #BrazilGP
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) November 13, 2022
Verstappen has got to be the BIGGEST idiot in F1 right now.
Checo Perez did everything to make sure Max won the championship last season, yet Max couldn’t move over and help him out (when he’s already wrapped up the championship this year).
Max is a joke. Petulant little boy.
— Alan Mehdizadeh (@alanmehdizadeh) November 13, 2022
Wtf Max, Perez was the reason you were able to “win” the championship last year and in exchange you stole the position from your teammate. What a fucking bellend, can’t understand how you still have fans
— brown jack harlow (@Thanen_) November 13, 2022
Short memory for Max, Perez fending off Lewis and then letting him through won him a championship…
— Scott Culleton (@Scott_Culleton) November 13, 2022
Poor from Max. Perez has always prioritised Max’s needs. Wouldn’t be Champion without him. https://t.co/wXjMjFIPdy
— Malik Fraz Ahmad (@MalikFrazAhmad2) November 13, 2022
One fan blamed Red Bull for the whole situation.
Do you know the number of times Perez was asked to give up his position for Max? Perez is literally there for Max to win races. RB doesn't give a damn about Perez https://t.co/OsQafOy29Y
— Shuraim (@DrShuraim) November 13, 2022
Laughable from Max, Perez has willingly sacrificed himself beyond belief for his two championships, to put a Perez P2 and a RB 1-2 in the Championship in danger over P6 is petty and immature. Would be fuming if I was Perez.
— LV🔰 (@lv_utd) November 13, 2022
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BULLSHIT BEHAVIOUR FROM MAX
PEREZ IS THE ONLY REASON WHY MAX WON LAST YEAR.
HE DOES NOT DESERVE THIS TREATMENT#F1#BrazilGP— Dhruv Purkayastha (@DhruvPurkayast1) November 13, 2022
Checo held Lewis Hamilton in Max’s 2021 championship-winning race in Abu Dhabi. Playing the ultimate teammate, he not only slowed Lewis down, but also gave Max a wonderful slipstream and let him pass himself easily.
Charles Leclerc takes 2nd spot in drivers’ standings
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Leclerc finished the race in P4, 3 grid places ahead of Perez. They are both tied on points, but it is Leclerc on the runners-up spot in the drivers’ championship standings. Going by how Red Bull are performing lately, the chance to get 2nd spot could slip out of Checo’s hands.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Mexico City Grand Prix – Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico – October 27, 2022 Red Bull’s Sergio Perez during a press conference REUTERS/Henry Romero
There is just one race left in the season now. It will be interesting to see how things pan out in the Red Bull camp in the coming week. With what happened today in Brazil, Checo would possibly feel betrayed.
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Watch This Story: Two Decades Later Red Bull Disastrously Recreate 2002 Austrian GP
Do you think it was fair for Max to not let Checo pass?
