F1 plot thickens after Verstappen refused direct team order
Nov.14 - Even Dr Helmut Marko looked upset late on Sunday after world champion Max Verstappen refused to help Red Bull and Sergio Perez's quest for second overall in the 2022 drivers' standings.
Instead, Mexican Perez is now locked on points with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc heading into the season finale this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
"Max should do everything possible to help us finish first and second in the drivers' championship," Austrian Marko, 79, said after Dutchman Verstappen directly refused a team order to let Perez past at Interlagos.
Sergio Perez talks with his engineers in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
"I have nothing more to say about what happened."
He did, however, reveal that the matter has already been discussed behind closed doors, with team boss Christian Horner insisting they even "shook hands".
What is beyond doubt is that Verstappen offered his race engineer complete radio silence when the request was made late in the Brazilian GP.
Once the chequered flag flew, the 25-year-old explained his position on the radio.
"I told you already, don't ask that again to me. Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it."
Perez, whose supporting role has been critical over Verstappen's successful back-to-back title campaigns - particularly last year's - was livid.
"This shows who he really is," he said on the radio.
Perez then told the media: "After all I've done for him, I'm disappointed, to be honest. I'm really surprised.
"If he has two titles, it's also thanks to me," Perez told Spanish language media.
Verstappen, however, hinted that there is more to the story. When reporters asked if his decision was linked with a past event, he confirmed "yes".
"I have my reasons for that and we just discussed it," he said. "I think it was good that we sat together and talked about it, so we can move forward from here.
"I talked with Checo, Christian and Helmut and I explained everything."
The leading theory, first mentioned on Viaplay by well-known racing driver Tom Coronel, is that it was payback for Perez supposedly deliberately crashing in the dying moments of Monaco qualifying this year.
"What Tom Coronel just said is true," authoritative Dutch journalist Erik van Haren confirmed. "Verstappen has not forgotten this."
When asked if that theory is true, Verstappen said: "Decide for yourself. I won't say anything but it's clear that we are not babies.
"If he needs support and I can give it in Abu Dhabi, I'll be there. But it's good that we talked about it already and cleared up everything about why I didn't let him pass."
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Once a Verstappen always a Verstappen. His action for me puts Abu Dhabi last year in a new light and confirms my worst suspicions about Red Bull. MV has them over a barrel.
Blob, seriously man, you're as bad as Trump denying the election results. Get over it.
Ante las actuaciones de Verstappen y de los directivos de RED BULL me he retirado como Fan del Equipo Red Bull y del pretencioso y egotista de Verstappen.
Kinda like father like son. The worst thing is he has everything, fastest car by far, team prepared to cheat, weak teammate etc
RIGHT!
Not bitter guys are you? Multi21 , Multi21
Stroppy, Blob and F6 can't help themselves - raging sycophants that they are.
What was the deal at Monaco that MadMax was so butt-hurt about that he nurtured a resentment all season till now? I thought he was a bigger man than all that. Like my mother said, "You get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."
Ante las actuaciones de Verstappen y de los directivos de RED BULL me he retirado como Fan del Equipo Red Bull y del pretencioso y efoista de Verstappen.
He was already more than four seconds ahead. Therefore, I can understand his refusal.
He’s a hard man to genuinely like. A very good driver and all that, but he can be a condescending little pr*ck. Horner should wait until MV cools down before he asks him for a raise.
If you want to see a condescending F1 driver, look up Jochen Rindt, but there were others also. In all sports, the top performers don’t sit around waiting to be told what to do, and specially fix F1 races.
If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather see Max do his stuff unimpeded just like all other worthy world champions. Being liked is not the point in F1.
If Checo wanted to be second in the championship, then he needed to earn it not be handed it. He has had a spotty season. Sometimes he seems to be “on his game” sometimes not. The championship title is for the entire season’s efforts, not telling a team member, on the second to the last race, to slow down.
I’m starting to like you, Susan, you make a very good point!
Checo is one of my favourite F1 personalities and obviously a great driver. It’s his good fortune that RB took him on, and his bad luck that Max is the better driver of the two in a sport where the difference between great and best is a very fine one.
I’m not fond of team shenanigans. In any sport where the public pays a fortune to watch, you would expect everyone to do his best and let the chips fall where they may. Max passed Checo then raced away from him. This business of telling Max ‘’go give it your all and catch Alonzo but if you don’t, then just let Checo pass you’’ is ludicrous at best.
Facts are facts, Max got very close to Alonzo and Checo could not catch up to his teammate even in the light of Max’s unusual difficulties and penalty for being fearless.
Rb brought Checo from the brink of retirement to the No 1 Team,rewarded him handsomely, hed do well to remember that, many others would willingly take his place, if Max had said NO beforehand, then his position was clear, then its Rb that's caused the stink not Max, yes in hindsight and a Bollocking from Spicy and the Doc might have calmed him down and caused Max to play the team game for the press All the top teams have had these situations , Rb should be grateful, its taking the heat away from what was a poor weekends work, while the Dames prancing around like shes 13 yr and just been kissed for the 1st time.
Shropp, I have a suggestion a guy like will love.
Instead of letting drivers like Max contradict their team orders, just keep them in the pits long enough to reset the car order they want.
As I said before Susan, SP,, Tequila! Tequila, Tequilas the drink for me. 😜
It’s unrealistic and naive to think that team orders should not be a thing in a sport where millions (and corporate reputations) are at stake.
Denying Checo a 6th for his CV and cutting corners to win come from the same place
I don’t think MV is racing to win a popularity contest. So far, thank God, he hasn’t hired a PR firm unlike other drivers. Like him or not, he makes serious money for RB and when that ends, he’ll be gone. It’s business not personal
How teams run their strategies should not be open to the public domain for “group” discussions and inputs. If Checho has a problem, discuss it during team meetings not publically, like grownups. If memory serves me right, RB saved SP, career at the eleventh hour. He shouldn’t have to continually kiss everyone’s feet but he should keep in mind, that he was hired to be MV wingman.
If memory serves me right, RB saved SP, career at the eleventh hour. --Correct
I don’t think MV is racing to win a popularity contest. So far, thank God, he hasn’t hired a PR firm unlike other drivers. Like him or not, he makes serious money for RB and when that ends, he’ll be gone. It’s business not personal
How teams run their strategies should not be open to the public domain for “group” discussions and inputs. If Checho has a problem, discuss it during team meetings not publically, like grownups. If memory serves me right, RB saved SP, career at the eleventh hour. He shouldn’t have to continually kiss everyone’s feet but he should keep in mind, that he was hired to be MV wingman, rather that was publically adverised or not.
There should be no team orders regarding... how to tell a driver Go Fast now.... Slow Down,,,how fast to go etc... Max was right to ignore the team order... Team orders seem to be taking over the roll of drivers and if it continues, one might as well have robots driving the cars...Russell asking, are we allowed to race... my goodnesss... Team orders should only be allowed on safety reasons. F1 fan from the time Australian Alan Jones won in 1981
Ahhhhh 1981 what a year
1981 Brazilian Grand Prix
Carlos Reutemann disobeyed Williams’ team orders during the 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix and thereby refused to allow his teammate Alan Jones to win the race. Jones never forgave this act of disobedience on the part of his teammate, while Reutemann felt frustrated at Jones' refusal to acknowledge his help, especially after having given him the victory at the 1981 USA West Grand Prix.
And who can forget Fernando is faster than you Germany 10 (Now adored by f1 fans), Multi21 Malaysia 13 (Such a nice guy that Seb Now) and it'll be the same with Max, apart from the wet trouser brigade that is .
Es que a Verstappen lo dejaron pasar para luchar por la punta , pero que si no podia hacerlo debía regresar la posición. Las actuaciones de Verstappen y de los directivos de RED BULL me hacen retirar como Fan del Equipo Red Bull y del pretencioso y egotista de Verstappen.
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