Red Bull Alumni Ricciardo & Vettel Encourage Sergio Perez to Defy Max Verstappen Orders in Mexico

With a handful of races left in the season, Red Bull head to one of their strongholds, the Autodromo Hernandez Rodrigues in Mexico. With it being a home race for Sergio Perez, fans and drivers alike wish for a home victory for the driver. Former Red Bull icons Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo share their thoughts on team orders impeding Checo’s dream win.

Perez arrives at the Mexican Grand Prix with a car that could get him a home victory for the first time in his career. However, with the season ending, many fear that his teammate will get a preference for the win. Should team orders come into play, Sebastian Vettel takes Checo’s side.

Sharing his thoughts on the concept of team orders, Vettel didn’t agree with it.”Well, I’m not a fan of team orders…I still think it’s bad, and I would be in favor of not having any team orders ever. I think it’s just dull, nobody likes it.”

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The four-time Red Bull champ wishes to see Checo stay ahead if he has the lead. “Now if Checo happens to be ahead [leading the race] then Checo should stay ahead, and if he’s not ahead then he has to be overtaken by whoever, whether that’s a Mercedes or a Red Bull.”

Daniel Ricciardo wants a Mexican win for Checo

Daniel Ricciardo, a Red Bull alum himself, agreed with Vettel’s statements. Putting himself in Perez’s shoes, Ricciardo answered that he wouldn’t move aside for his teammate at a race in Melbourne.

However, after giving it a second thought, the Aussie decided that there’s only one situation where he would give away his lead. “If it was the last race of the season and that position swap literally meant the world title or not, then maybe that is a more complex decision-making process.”

Otherwise, Daniel explained that the feeling of a home race is like no other. “A home win, that is the thing you dream of as a kid and if you have earned it on track then yeah, I feel like it should be yours for the taking.”

What does Sergio Perez think?

Sergio Perez has great hope in his team, but there remains an underlying possibility that in the heat of the moment, Verstappen’s championship is threatened. But Perez is now powered by a Red Bull, which could almost guarantee him a home win.

Will the team that acts as an advantage for the Mexican intervene to snatch the win?

Perez doesn’t think so. “I’m pretty sure the whole team, Red Bull, everyone, wants me to win this weekend. I think everyone is so enthusiastic, everyone at my team, the crowd–it’s a very special venue for us. We’ll see through the race, but I’m pretty sure that everyone in this team… if there’s a race they want me to win, it’s this one.

“So I’m sure I’ll have full support from everyone in my team.”

Checo has found himself on the podium in the last two races. Will the Mexican GP make it a hat trick? And if so, will it be on the topmost step?

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