RED BULL: “PEREZ WILL SUPPORT VERSTAPPEN IF TEAM ORDERS ARE GIVEN IN BAKU”
As McLaren reviews its own rules, the Red Bull duo will collaborate to ensure Max Verstappen remains ahead.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists that the team orders between their two drivers are clear and that Sergio Perez will play a supporting role for Max Verstappen this season, something he is “100% certain” about.
McLaren is still grappling with how and when Oscar Piastri should help Lando Norris close the 62-point gap between him and Verstappen at the top of the driver standings. As the Azerbaijan Grand Prix approaches this weekend, Piastri has said he will assist Norris if the opportunity arises, but Horner is confident that Perez fully understands his role at Red Bull.
The Mexican driver has struggled this season, with speculation about him being dropped from the team during the summer, but it has now been confirmed he will stay with the team until the end of the year. Perez had played a support role for Verstappen during the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, where Verstappen won the championship by overtaking Lewis Hamilton, and Horner expects a similar situation this year.
When asked by Sky Sports F1 if Red Bull would issue team orders to move Verstappen ahead of Perez, Horner responded, “It depends on where the others are.”
“Team orders are always a contentious topic, but Checo is 100% aware that he needs to support Max through to the end of this championship and, of course, help in the Constructors’ Championship as well.”
“Just think of Abu Dhabi 2021 to see what kind of team player Checo is, so our game plan is quite simple. I would like to manage it in the last few laps!” he replied.
McLaren, with high scores from Piastri and Norris in recent races and Verstappen fighting alone due to Perez’s drop in pace, is closing the gap in the Constructors’ standings. However, Baku has been one of Perez’s happiest places in recent years, with more success there than any other driver.
When asked why Perez shines on the streets of Baku, Horner replied, “I have no idea.”
“It doesn’t make sense because it has high-speed straights and 90-degree corners filled with barriers, but he has always been magical here. If there were a 24-race championship in Azerbaijan, it would be quite hard to beat him. It’s very important to carry this momentum into the race.”
Perez’s form has been under scrutiny due to his performance gap with Verstappen, but both Red Bulls struggled two weeks ago at the Italian Grand Prix. Verstappen’s difficulties highlighted a drop in Red Bull’s pace, and Horner thinks this gave Perez new hope as it proved the issues were not due to his own performance.
“After that, he walked half a centimeter taller, as if to say, ‘Look, it’s not just me.’ And I think this really relaxed him psychologically. We always knew theoretically that this track and Singapore should be better for him, and hopefully, he can have a strong weekend.”
Before the Saturday afternoon qualifying session, Perez was the fastest seventh in the third practice session, while Verstappen was in fifth place, 0.348 seconds behind the fastest George Russell.
