Max Verstappen’s Shocking Radio Message for Checo Perez Leaves F1 Insiders Surprised at Abu Dhabi GP

The Austrian constructors had an amazing weekend during the final race of the season in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Despite an eventful Qualifying for Sergio Perez, a brilliant comeback drive was almost enough for him to secure a P2. However, due to an unfortunate incident with Lando Norris, a 5-second penalty put him out of the podium places. Nonetheless, it was an excellent comeback drive, that almost helped Ferrari beat Mercedes in the constructors’ fight.

Max Verstappen, on the other hand, was cruising through the race like he has been all season. He was comfortably ahead of second-placed Charles Leclerc by about 10-15 seconds. Since he was cruising so much in front, Verstappen started taking the role of a race engineer, suggesting strategies for his teammate Checo!

Verstappen’s Cheeky Radio Message For Sergio Perez

By around the 35th lap, the story for the lead was already written. While in the early parts of the race, it looked like Charles had a shout for P1, Max began cruising away after the first round of pit stops. If you’ve been following this season, you’ll know the memes created by fans thinking that Max playing around with his smartphone, all the while cruising to a 20-30-second victory.

While the memes of him with a smartphone might be a little too farfetched, he did have some time to suggest the Milton Keynes team a strategy call for his teammate. A surprising, “You can pit Checo ahead of me, if you want” was heard over the radio.

Sergio Perez had the pace for a P2 finish today. However, thanks to the fronts going away fast, and the undercut being partly effective, Perez could have definitely used a pit stop by around lap 35-36. By doing this, Red Bull would be prioritizing Perez’s race, and help him go ahead fast.

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While this may seem like a no-brainer later down the line, the fact that Max chose to prioritize his teammate while leading the race quite comfortably tickled British race winner, David Coulthard’s funny bone. His immediate reaction to the radio message caught immediately on the live coverage was nothing short of hilarious.

Max Verstappen’s Rubik’s Cube

Commenting on this surprising, yet funny radio message, Coulthard immediately let out a funny quip. “I am actually quite surprised to hear that that would even be something Max would get involved in. Rumor has it, Max does a Rubik’s cube while he’s over there in some of these Grands Prix. So maybe taking some time out.”

Max Verstappen’s missing Rubik’s cube this weekend really seemed to help Checo out a lot. In all seriousness though, the amount of race awareness and confidence a race leader needs to have to come out with these sorts of calls is truly commendable. That being said, the Monagasque Charles Leclerc and Briton George Russell also had the overall team position in mind, while battling a tough battle with Checo.

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Despite Red Bull’s and Checo’s best efforts, he could only finish P4, thanks to the unfortunate, yet strange penalty from the contact with Lando Norris.