Ever since Max Verstappen refused to follow team orders to let Sergio Perez pass in Brazil last year, cracks began to show in the relationship between the two Red Bull drivers. The Red Bull management downplayed the rift back then, insisting they sorted everything out between their drivers. However, what happened during the last lap of the Saudi Arabian GP suggests otherwise. It looks like the wounds have opened again, but once again, the team is attempting to downplay the rift.

Verstappen crashed out of Q2 after having a driveshaft failure that saw him start the race in P15. Despite that, he managed to march through the field to position himself behind his teammate in P1. Towards the ending stages of the Grand Prix, the Dutchman once again complained about feeling something strange with the car which the team possibly suspected to be another driveshaft problem. However, he wasn’t ready to give up just yet. If he was to go down, he would go down fighting.

How the last lap story exposed a sensitive nerve between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

Both RB drivers, towards the ending laps of the race, enquired about the fastest lap. While they told Perez that he was the one holding it, they told it wasn’t something that concerned them, possibly to avoid any conflict. However, Max tricked his team and Sergio to take the extra point on the final lap. Incidents like these lead F1 expert Marc Surer to believe that things are far from cool between the two and the team is doing everything it can to manage the PR game.

In a recent interview with Formel1.de, Surer said, “I think they really mistrust each other.” [Translated using Google]

Referring to the incident in Brazil, Surer continued, “something is cooking. And that hasn’t disappeared, it’s still there. The team does a good job of downplaying it. And the drivers don’t really comment on it either. At the moment they have they have it under control. But of course it can explode at some point.”

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After Perez’s two years at Red Bull, it is no secret that Verstappen is the clear favorite for the team. However, Helmut Marko insists that it is the results the team prioritizes and it does not matter who among the two does it.

The number 1 place does not necessarily belong to Max

Ever since his arrival at Red Bull, Perez has played nothing but the ultimate team game. Most famously, he showed his heroics in the 2021 season finale when his teammate won his maiden title. Had it not been for the Mexican Minister of Defense, it is highly unlikely that Max would have won the championship back then. Moreover, whenever the Dutchman fails to deliver the results, Checo is there to step up. All these qualities upscale his value a lot more than what he is credited for.

Speaking on the two drivers’ dynamic in the team, Helmut Marko in a recent interview with Sport.de said, “Below the line, our goal is to take first and second place in the championship. It is not at all a given that that first place belongs to Verstappen.” [Translated using Google]

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Do you think all is well between the Red Bull partners? Is there really no hierarchy between the two, as Marko insists?