What is known about the controversy between “Checo” Pérez and Max Verstappen

The Mexican Red Bull driver Sergio “Checo” Pérez said his teammate Max Verstappen showed “who he really is” after the two-time world champion Formula One refused to give up a place in Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The radio commentary came after “Czech” Perez he let his teammate pass on the understanding that the position would be returned if the Dutch driver could not pass Fernando Alonso’s Alpine for fifth place.

The Mexican needs all the points possible to overcome the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and be world runner-up, while Verstappen has already secured the title. Red Bull has never done a one-two in the drivers’ standings.

Perez and Leclerc are now tied on 290 points, with the second ahead 3-2 in race wins. The Monegasque was also not helped by the fact that Ferrari allowed Carlos Sainz to finish ahead of him.

Verstappenwho had been penalized for a collision with Lewis Hamiltonfrom Mercedes, was warned by his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to let Pérez pass at the finish line, but he ignored him and placed sixth, with “Checo” Pérez in seventh.

“Max, what happened?” Lambiase asked.

“I already told you last time, don’t ask me that again, okay?”, he replied Verstappen. “Is that clear? I gave my reasons and I stand by them”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner apologized to Perez: “I’m sorry about that, Checo,” he said.

“It shows who he really is,” replied the Mexican, who in the past was praised for Verstappen for playing a supporting role.

The Mexican later expanded his comment on Sky Sports: “They told me to let him pass, that he was going to recover the position,” he said. “Maybe they should ask him (…) after everything I’ve done for him, it’s a bit disappointing to be honest. I’m really surprised.”

Television commentators speculated that the “last time” he was referring to Verstappen it could be Monaco, where Pérez crashed at the bottom of qualifying but crashed out third with his teammate fourth. “Czech” he won that race and Verstappen finished third.

In subsequent statements to the press, Verstappen said it was “something that happened in the past” – declining to confirm if it was Monaco – and that he understood why Perez was upset. As he indicated, the matter had been discussed and he explained his actions.

“We have to move on. We are going to (the last race in) Abu Dhabi, they are level on points and if he needs the help there to finish ahead of Charles then I will help him,” Verstappen said.

Horner declined to give details of the talks with the team, but said the goal for Abu Dhabi was to ensure Perez took second overall.

“They are tied on points and everything we can do as a team (…) we will do to help “Checo” achieve that goal,” he said.

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