Red Bull face "great problem" with Max Verstappen Sergio Perez team orders dilemma

Perez, Red Bull, France — Photo: © LAT Images

Mexico City Grand Prix

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Red Bull face "great problem" with Verstappen Perez team orders dilemma

Perez has a realistic shot of first home victory

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Thursday 4 November 2021 20:15 Updated: 20:21

Sergio Perez believes Red Bull face a "great problem" over whether to deploy team orders this weekend in Mexico to assist Max Verstappen's F1 title charge.

Red Bull enter the Mexico City Grand Prix off the back of two consecutive podium finishes for Perez who has found a new lease of life with the RB16B since tweaking the set-up more to his liking.

The newfound confidence has arrived in time for his home race in Mexico, with a carnival atmosphere expected to rival scenes from Zandvoort for team-mate Verstappen in September.

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Should Perez lead the way ahead of Verstappen on Sunday afternoon, however, Red Bull would be faced with a dilemma - should it let the home hero take a deserved win, or should Verstappen's championship lead over Lewis Hamilton be consolidated with team orders?

"It will be a great problem to have from my side," said Perez, when asked if he would be allowed to win.

"It depends on the situation because most of these decisions are normally taken during the race, during the heat of the event.

"Depending on the circumstances, we will see but I am pretty sure the whole team, Red Bull, everyone wants me to win this weekend.

"Everyone is so enthusiastic. Everyone at my team, the crowd, it is a very special venue for us. It is a very intense fight and we will see.

"We will see through the race but I am pretty sure that everyone in the team really wants... if there is a race they want me to win, it is this one. I am sure I have good support from everyone in my team."

'No point in discussing plans now' - Perez

With the potential issue looming large given Red Bull's strength at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the various team briefings ahead of the weekend could be filled with discussions over different options if the situation arises.

Perez insisted the team must first ensure a strong weekend to put them in a position to make such decisions.

Asked if discussions had taken place, the two-time grand prix winner replied: "I don't see much point in discussing that now.

"We will see where we are on Saturday and if it is worthwhile having that conversation, but right now there is no guarantee that we are going to be in that position.

"It would be a great problem to have as a team but right now, we haven't discussed anything."