Perez vexed at not being able to count on Verstappen for his turn in Brazil
Sergio Perez is battling it out for the runner-up spot in the F1 World Championship at the end of the season, against Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. While Verstappen was in front of him in the closing laps of Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, his team-mate failed to relinquish his position. Perez said he was disappointed that the elevator had not been returned.
This Sunday, a few laps before the end of the Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was ahead of Perez, but the Dutchman did not slow down to let Perez pass.
« Yeah, thanks for that guys, thanks. It shows who he really is. » commented Perez on the radio after crossing the checkered flag.
Max Verstappen is already crowned champion this season, and Red Bull as well. The only remaining stake at the moment is the position of Formula 1 vice world champion, which has never been achieved by Red Bull in its history alongside a title. While Red Bull had the opportunity to give an advantage to Perez this Sunday by asking Verstappen to give up his position to his teammate and thereby allow the Mexican to have a 2-point lead over Leclerc in the championship.
« We lacked rhythm with the medium tires and I couldn’t keep them at the right temperature, it’s a bad day. I could have finished 4th and ended up 7th instead.
» Perez explains being disadvantaged compared to the competitors.
Even though Verstappen was asked for a “position swap” on the radio if he couldn’t catch up to Leclerc, who was two positions ahead, Verstappen did not follow the instruction.
I am surprised, I was asked to let him pass to regain the position on Charles [Leclerc, editor’s note], but he was supposed to let me pass if he couldn’t do it and he didn’t. So I am surprised about that.
Some photos showed Perez and Verstappen in deep conversation in the FIA garage during the weighing. Verstappen seemed surprised and Perez rather annoyed.
Perez: model teammate for Red Bull
Brazilian Grand Prix 2021: While Max Verstappen is fighting to make a comeback and get closer to Lewis Hamilton, his championship rival in this last race of the 2021 season, Sergio Perez is doing everything in his power on the track to hinder Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes and prevent him from overtaking him, despite a difference in tire wear.
In a few moments of discomfort, Hamilton is caught up by Verstappen, who finds himself in the exhaust of the Mercedes, before Hamilton finally finds the opening on Perez’s Red Bull. Nicknamed the “Mexican Defense Minister” afterwards, Sergio Perez has shown that he is a teammate willing to sacrifice himself to help the team leader.
This season, while battling for the title against Leclerc, Perez also put himself out there on several occasions, enduring unorthodox strategies to get in the way of Ferrari.
In a late-season race, tension reaches its peak among the Red Bull teammates even though the stakes are lower.
