Team Orders: Red Bull Drama Begins!

 Brazilian Grand Prix Summary

The Brazilian Grand Prix has been the most entertaining weekend of the season by a mile. At Friday Qualifying there was history as American team Haas won qualifying for the first time in their history after 8 years in the sport. At Saturday Sprint Race Mercedes got their first win of the season and at the main race British driver George Russell managed to win for the first time in his career after more than 110 races. 

This race also had the most overtakes and most pit stops of the season, the most incidents and position changes, but the main talking point was created by Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez who got into a radio argument for disobeying team orders. 

What are team orders and how will they affect Red Bull?

In Formula One every team has two drivers, in the case of Red Bull this are current world champion Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez. At any given race, when one teammate is faster than the other, or points are needed, the team can order the drivers to swap positions, essentially giving the teammate a free overtake, which is allowed.

At the last lap of the race Verstappen (who already won the championship and doesn’t need the points) was in 6th and Perez (who really needs the points for the 2nd place fight) was in 7th. The team order Max to slow down and give the place and points to Perez but he refused to the surprise of the whole team.

As soon as he crossed the line he was question on the radio by his boss who asked him why did he do that, and Max replied rudely, “I told you already last time, you guys don't ask that again to me, OK? Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it.“ 

Sergio Perez answered with “Wow guys, thanks for that, this just shows who he really is” and later added on the media “If he has two world championships it is because of me”

My Opinion

In my opinion Max had nothing to gain and everything to lose, they appeared to be very good friends and Sergio had done everything the team had asked to help, but now he gained a lot of hate from the fans and will create tension at the team, in the future Sergio will think twice about helping him during a race. Max Verstappen showed the world he is not a team player and he only thinks for himself.