Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo wade in on Red Bull team-orders debate

Verstappen and Perez at COTA — Photo: © LAT Images

Mexico City Grand Prix

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Vettel and Ricciardo wade in on Red Bull team-orders debate

Will Sergio Perez let by Max Verstappen on home soil in Mexico?

Ian Parkes

Friday 5 November 2021 09:29

Sebastian Vettel has urged Sergio Perez to "stay ahead" if he finds himself on the cusp of winning his home Mexico City Grand Prix even if Red Bull instructs him to let by team-mate Max Verstappen.

Perez's recent improvement in form after claiming back-to-back podiums has sparked a 'what if' debate ahead of Sunday's race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

There is a possibility Perez could find himself leading the race in the closing stages in front of 130,000 fans clamouring for a first win from a Mexican driver on home soil.

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Should Verstappen lie second, would Red Bull impose team orders, and if they do, would Perez obey with such a historic moment in his grasp?

With Perez declaring it a "great problem" for the team, he has received support from four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel.

When the scenario was put to Vettel, the Aston Martin driver said: "Well, I'm not a fan of team orders.

"There are two different team orders. There's the order where you give way but you get it back in the same race if you're on different strategies.

"Then there's the team order where one has to get out of the way so the other can score more points.

"Now even if the situation is very easy to explain logically, I still think it's bad, and I would be in favour of not having any team orders ever. I think it's just dull, nobody likes it.

"Now if Checo happens to be ahead [leading the race] then Checo should stay ahead, and if he's not ahead then he has to be overtaken by whoever, whether that's a Mercedes or a Red Bull.

"Valtteri [Bottas] has been in that position [with Lewis Hamilton] and it's not nice."

Ricciardo also sides with Perez

McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo has made clear he would not give way if a win was on the cards in the Australian Grand Prix.

Asked if he would move aside for his team-mate in Melbourne, Ricciardo replied: "Well, look, right now my answer is no, I would not."

Recognising there is only one scenario when he might change his mind, he added: "If it was the last race of the season and that position swap literally meant the world title or not, then maybe that is a more complex decision-making process.

"But a home win, that is the thing you dream of as a kid and if you have earned it on track then yeah, I feel like it should be yours for the taking."