The Spanish Grand Prix saw the first major controversy in an inter-team dynamic in the 2022 season. Red Bull F1 once again got a 1-2 this season with Max Verstappen leading Sergio Perez. But in Barcelona, the situation was different compared to their last 1-2 in Imola.
Sergio was driving a flawless race and was leading the pack after his second pit stop. But he was told by his engineer to let the reigning world champion through, as he was on a different strategy to Perez. Checo agreed to move aside, but he voiced his displeasure with the whole scenario.
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Many criticized the Austrian team to implement team orders so early in the season to let Max through. But F1 Journalist Will Buxton defended the decision with a series of tweets.
F1 Journalist defends Red Bull F1 over team order controversy in Spain
Buxton gave a thorough analysis of the whole team order situation at the Spanish Grand Prix. He mentioned it made sense for the team to let the world champion Verstappen take the lead from his teammate for the championship.
Lots of Red Bull team orders conversations after the race yesterday. I can see that with Max in a faltering car it might have made sense to favour Checo, but there is a significant mental weight to the change in championship lead Verstappen’s win brought into the mix.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) May 23, 2022
2 DNFs already, a team aware every point counts, and your reigning world champion has a chance to take the lead of a championship he was 46 points behind just a few races ago… it's a no brainer.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) May 23, 2022
“So many factors at play in this. The alternate strategies. Cars are already on the edge in high temps. Not to mention the fact Max is, whether it’s written or not, the team’s #1. But the momentum shift against Ferrari and Leclerc, which came from a Max 1-2 over a Checo 1-2, is huge,” said Buxton.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – May 22, 2022, First placed Max Verstappen of Red Bull and second-placed Sergio Perez of Red Bull celebrate on the podium after the race REUTERS/Albert Gea
” 2 DNFs already, a team aware every point counts, and your reigning world champion has a chance to take the lead of a championship he was 46 points behind just a few races ago… it’s a no brainer,” said the F1 Journalist.
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It is a very fair argument presented by Will Buxton on the team orders controversy after Barcelona. Another reason that Red Bull might have implemented team orders was to assure that both drivers finish on the podium, not risking any DNFs by allowing them to battle each other.
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By winning the race, Max also took the lead in the drivers’ championship, so maybe that could be another reason for the call. But it is certainly an interesting situation that has arisen so early in the season.
