Red Bull team orders furore resurfaces in Saudi Arabian one-two
Red Bull team orders furore resurfaces in Saudi Arabian one-two
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed a pre-race agreement was struck between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to avoid a repeat of last year's team order fiasco.
The 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix saw tempers flare as Verstappen ignored a clear instruction to allow team-mate Perez through for sixth place.
Despite the Dutchman's lowly 15th-place starting position for Sunday's Saudi Arabian race, Verstappen had climbed to second in the closing stages.
This prompted Perez to clarify via team radio if the pair were racing or not, to which he was informed he was 'free to push to the end'.
"I don’t think he wanted that answer," Horner joked to Sky Sports.
“We’ve got a great car and two great drivers. We talked about it (team orders) in a briefing earlier on Sunday (and said) that you are free to race but it clean.
“Both of them are so competitive but today, Checo (Perez), that was his best grand prix, especially after the restart on the hard tyres.
"He immediately built a five-second gap and then he maintained that and managed that and all credit to him.”
Perez 'steps up'
Verstappen finished 149 points clear of Perez last term as he claimed his second consecutive world title.
“Max is a racer and he’s going to push and coming from 15th on the grid to second at a street circuit is pretty unusual, but Sergio’s stepped up to the challenge,” added Horner.
“After that safety car, my heart was in my mouth at that point because I’m envisaging that within three laps we’re going to have two drivers going at it hammer and tong, but it didn’t materialise. Checo got the gap, was able to manage it, and his pace was fantastic.
“Checo, I think personally that was probably his best-ever race. Managing the pace, the restart, and the pace that he had. Those guys were going absolutely flat out.”
READ MORE: Perez shines in Saudi Arabian GP victory as Verstappen survives Red Bull gremlins
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey Red Bull exit details confirmed as Ferrari make dramatic unveiling - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Award-winning director reveals STUNNING tribute to F1 legend Senna
- Yesterday 22:57
Ferrari fans BEG for Newey after team reveal shock change
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey manager hints at Red Bull legend's SHOCK next move after exit
- Yesterday 20:57
Ecclestone ATTACKS Hamilton 'ego' after Ferrari move
- Yesterday 19:57
- 1
Newey and Hamilton could enjoy stunning title REPEAT after F1 guru's Red Bull exit
- Yesterday 18:58
Related news
Red Bull F1 stars offer contrasting F1 advice to next generation
F1 pundit details GLARING Mercedes issue
Bearman reveals F1 LEGEND 'message' sent to him before Ferrari debut
Hamilton hug with Bearman and Tsunoda BLANKS Sky presenter – FIVE things you may have missed at the Saudi Arabian GP
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860