Inside Line: Verstappen is right, Red Bull and Perez to blame
F1 NewsThursday, 17 November 2022 at 13:10
Having pondered (to the point of studying) the Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez saga that blew up after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, I conclude that the Dutch double World Champion did no wrong and the Mexican veteran might have helped his own cause a bit more.
As much as I was disappointed in the missed opportunity in which Max neglected to show what a mature and dignified Formula 1 World Champion he can be, instead, he showed a side of his character that has attracted almost universal disdain.
His detractors milking the fodder he gave them to unacceptable abusive levels through social media, while non-Dutch F1 pundits are united in pointing out the shortcomings of his actions, even some of his fans calling Red Bull's Champion out for the same thing.
In Sao Paulo, with nothing to lose, he could have gifted Perez - who did so much for Verstappen in the past as his teammate aka "the Minister of Defence for the Bulls" - a couple of points on Sunday and made the whole world happy.
Instead, he faltered in the eyes of the world by not helping Perez in his quest to finish second, citing some bygone incident that Red Bull (culprits in the mismanagement of their drivers) clearly failed to address, hence Max's refusal when commanded by the team to move over for Perez last Sunday.
Why should he move over for anyone I ask?
It goes against the grain of what is embedded in his DNA, which is etched into motorsport and F1 gospels, to win you have to beat your teammate, beat him to a pulp aka destroy the teammate in the other kart or car, first and foremost.
Red Bull, who have ticked just about every box this season in terms of performance on track, forgot - after long ago wrapping up both 2022 F1 Titles - that Perez was in the hunt for second. Therefore a sit down should have been arranged before Brazil, to establish the rules of engagement that would apply in various scenarios, so that the number two car would get help.
While F1 likes to sell itself as a team sport, it's a fallacy. Yes, granted a massive team of 1,000 people build and services two cars for two guys to drive as fast as they can during the course of a season. But that's where 'team' ends.
Thereafter the two 'teammates' then proceed to (as mentioned) first and foremost 'destroy' each other, before focussing on trouncing their rivals. Help between two teammates, if anything is at stake, is rare, and rivalries among them plentiful. History shows F1 it's not a team sport, in fact, it's probably the most solo sports of all.
And that's another point worth noting, Verstappen is Red Bull's undisputed Number One driver at Red Bull, the team, the car, the garage, the future is built around the 25-year-old Dutchman; Perez, seven years his senior, must have known when Christian Horner and Helmut Marko made him an offer he could not refuse that he was entering Team Max.
Verstappen has 'owned' Perez for the past two seasons at Red Bull
Let's face it, Verstappen has made mincemeat of Checo, which was expected and ideal for a team that focuses everything on one guy. But that's the problem, the Mexican veteran has not believed he is number two, maybe after this year's pounding he does, but prior to that at the start of the season he was talking up his 2022 Championship chances.
As if he had it to beat Max. It was delusional and ill-advised because his teammate would have read that, and who knows what he thought. Perez is number two in the vein of Rubens Barrichello and Eddie Irvine were to Michael Schumacher at Ferrari, during their golden era two decades ago. Full stop.
Thus after Mexico, with second place over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in this year's Title race being a reality, Checo, the elder of the pair might have been smart, sat down with Max (alone) and said: "Mate, we did it. You are the F1 champion again, and I was happy to help, and Red Bull are champions too. Mission accomplished but, Bud, I need your help to finish second in the Championship, and beat Charles. How can we make it happen?"
Did Checo have a chat with Max? Or did he take it for granted? Had he done the latter, I doubt very much Verstappen would have reacted the way he did at Interlagos. Because that's how he and race drivers are wired, they are great when you blow smoke up the right places aka let them know they are the best. Simple, well-intended psychology might have served Perez better.
Max missed a massive opportunity to do good, he disappointed, but that's his right as a race driver
In closing I repeat, Verstappen missed a massive opportunity to make the world smile, as a fan I thought he was better than that. He took ruthlessness too far. Like many, I was disappointed in that moment and the missed opportunity to do good for nothing.
But over the subsequent days I realized I don't like Max because he is a nice guy or for all the bunnies he hugs, I love him for the mega-genius he is behind the wheel, the race driver, the ruthlessness, the double World Champion.
Just like Ayrton Senna, just like Michael Schumacher, and just like Lewis Hamilton.
Maybe to be great at a sport, you have to be a ruthless bastid at all times; the abovementioned trio also have questionable moments on their illustrious CVs. And if that's the case, and they have been exonerated, then Max did now wrong in Sao Paulo as he behaved as Champions do whether we 'the masses' like it or not, and it seems, to me, Checo slipped up by not playing his cards right, as non-Champions often do.
(Note to reader if you get this far: This is a personal opinion piece, chill.)
This is what our crew had to say on the Verstappen-Perez drama in the latest TeamTalk here>>>
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